13.2. Evaluations The Prisons Ordinance provides that every convicted person should be presented for evaluation on the fourth, eighth, twelfth, fifteenth and twentieth year of their imprisonment, in order to monitor their rehabilitative progress every four years. The relevant Ministry is tasked with making recommendations regarding each prisoner to reduce, commute or release persons considered to be rehabilitated, and these recommendations are forwarded to the President for approval. This process is applicable to all prisoners, irrespective of the length of their sentence. The system of evaluations was discontinued in 2001 following numerous protests and judicial, social and political pressure due to the public perception that people convicted of serious crimes and persons sentenced to death were being released ‘too early’. However, the Commission was informed that the prisons continue to prepare evaluation reports on every prisoner, in accordance with the statutory requirement. These reports are sent to the Ministry of Justice and even forwarded to the office of the President. However, no subsequent action or evaluation is taken thereafter. The Commission was informed by senior officers of the Department of Prisons that the system of evaluations was a highly effective and efficient correctional policy whereby prisoners could be incentivised to maintain good conduct and partake in rehabilitation, as they could be rewarded with early release following evaluation. They highlighted the need to reinstate periodic and systemized evaluations in order to find a solution for the ever-increasing numbers and mitigate the harmful physical and psychological effects of long-term imprisonment. 13.3. Remission Remission marks refers to the daily system of awarding marks to prisoners, based on good conduct and productivity, the result of which is that prisoner would be able to forgo a portion of the sentence and be released. The remission marks for each prisoner are calculated when they enter the prison and date of early release is recorded. However, the Commission found that the system of remission marks is not currently being utilised in a manner that would create incentive for prisoners to maintain good behaviour. For instance, the Commission was informed that the maximum number of daily marks a prisoner can earn are usually awarded to all prisoners, irrespective of whether they engaged in productive activity or remained idle all day due to lack of equipment in their work section. The blank award of remission marks would reduce the capacity of the system to enforce good behaviour in prisoners. Furthermore, the calculation of remission marks is based on quantifiable output, such as number of units produced in a work party section, which is a limited form of output assessment. xviii