​Women Prison
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History of Women Prison
The Women Prison was formally part of Port-Louis Prison Court. It was transferred from Port-Louis to the Central Prison at Beau-Bassin in 1951. It is situated on a piece of land of approximately 1.75 acres​.​

It was proclaimed in 1954 where adult and juvenile female detainees were kept. The Institution can accommodate up to 150 detainees​. Appropriate accommodation is provided for detainees with babies.


Physical Structure

  • The residential area comprises of dormitories and cells.
  • Two association yards, one for remand and one for convicted.
  • A mother and Child Unit
  • A Segregation and Protection Unit
  • An area for prayers and worship
  • A Tailoring workshop
  • Garment Making Workshop holding MITD courses
  • Administrative Offices.

Until recently, past female detainees were having access to all areas of the institution. With the resetting of offices and restructuration, the institution has been reset in three major areas viz.

1.     Residential area

2.     Activity area

3.     Administrative area

 

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Deployment of Labour

Convicted detainees are deployed as follows:-
    1. Kitchen
    2. Laundry
    3. Tailoring workshop
    4. Domestic Duties
    5. Flower Garden
    6. Poultry Farm
    7. Pastry Unit


Activities held daily/weekly

by Prison Staff
  • Garment Making Workshop – MITD Course
  • School (Educator from the Ministry of Education)
  • Basketry Unit
  • Pastry 
  • Beauty Care & Hair Dressing

by NGO’s

  • Individual/Group counseling
  • Yoga
  • Tai Chi
  • Meditation
  •  Art Therapy
  • Handicraft


Health Service
 
  • A Dispensary manned by three nurses under the responsibility of a female Senior Hospital Officer
  • Hours of operation: 07.30 hrs to 18.00 hrs
  • A Prison Medical Officer attends the Institution daily to examine all sick detainees
  • A Dental Surgeon and Medical Specialists in different fields also attend to them on  weekly and monthly basis respectively.


Recreational Activities

  • Detainees are allowed to practice indoor games and volleyball in the yards.
  • Radio and T.V facilities are also provided during their leisure time.
  •  Books, magazines as well as daily newspapers are made available.
  • Since November 2004, telephones facilities weekly through phone cards are allowed to them to communicate with their relatives.


Visit

  • Female detainees are allowed open visit with their children up to the age of 7 yrs.
  • They have inter institution visit.
  • Foreigners are visited by NGO’s from HOPE organization.


Places of Worship

  • Female detainees attend prayers weekly at their respective place of worship:
  • Hindu                -           HinduTemple
  • Christians          -           Chapel
  • Muslim              -           Mosque
  • Babies are christened upon mothers’ request.


Mother and Child Unit

  • The Unit was set in 2009 to respond to urgent needs of babies and their mothers
  • The unit can accommodate 8 mothers and babies
  • Babies' physical, medical, psychological and educational needs are met by Prison Authority through the Welfare Officer
  • Children’s birthday celebrations are organised by the Women Prison.

​Outside day care and educational facilities are provided for babies and infants respectively.​


Contact

Assistant Commissioner of Prisons
Tel: (230)454 2061/62
Fax: (230)465 6281​

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