The Department of Correctional Services is exploring the possibility of establishing a juvenile correctional facility for girls in the vicinity of Sabina Park, Kingston, according to Commissioner of Corrections Major Richard Reese.

"We are looking at a facility at South Camp Road, which will accommodate 45 girls," Reese told The Gleaner yesterday.

He noted that the location would be ideal given the proximity of a number of schools. He added that the girls could attend classes during the day and return to the facility in the evenings.

Reese said his department examined the facility and was working out a price agreement with the landlord. The facility would accommodate girls between the ages of 12 and 17.

Meanwhile, Reese said several of the wards at the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre have been transferred to the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre, bringing the population at Armadale down from 65 to 39.

Protest

Last month, a group of wards at Armadale had to be transferred to the Horizon Remand Centre in St Andrew after they launched a boisterous protest over certain conditions at the institution

Reese said while there was more space at the Fort Augusta facility, the rehabilitation programme there was not similar to Armadale's, and this was a challenge for officers and wards.

However, he noted that the girls who were currently at Fort Augusta were being housed in a dormitory setting as opposed to being accommodated in rooms, as was the case at Armadale. This, he said, was an advantage for the officers who could now directly supervise them.

Reese disclosed that the Correctional Services would be converting the administrative building at Armadale into a dormitory and configuring two 40-foot containers into forming the administrative building.

The commissioner of corrections said his department had increased security at Armadale by procuring the services of security officers to work with the correctional officers who were already there.

Up to late yesterday, the police were still searching for two of the 11 girls who escaped from the Armadale Juvenile Correctional facility in St Ann on Saturday. Police and other officials managed to capture nine of them within 24 hours of their escape.

The 11 low-risk wards made their escape by cutting a section of the fence near to the front of the building about 2 a.m. Saturday.