• Discipline Discipline in prisons in the Gambia is governed by the Prisons Act (Cap. 20.01). It applies to both inmates and guards. Subsidiary legislation having a bearing on discipline are: Prison Rules (Rules 2/1953, L. Ns 16/ 1963, 27/1963, 84/1964; Prison (Criminal Appellants) Regulations (Reg. 7/1936); and Prison (Capital Cases) Regulations (Reg. 16/1937). Inmates who fought used to be confined to a punishment cell. This cell has not, however, been used as such for a long time, and it now serves as a store. Inmates involved in serious offences such as drugs and fighting are charged before the courts. Other offences may lead to loss of remission. Although authorised by law, food is not withheld as punishment. Labour in the garden in the prison compound is another punishment which may be imposed on an offending inmate. With regard to escapes, an inmate jumped over the fence about a month ago, but he was apprehended the same day. Previously, lashes was the punishment for escaping or attempting to escape. But a Presidential Committee for the welfare of prisoners suggested that another punishment should be imposed. Generally, the prison staff have not had too many problems with the inmates: they are a fairly well-behaved lot. • Visits Once in three months an inmate is entitled to a visit, but the above Committee recommended one visit per month for those of good behaviour and others with long sentences. The shorter visits are recommended by the Superintendent in charge and approved by the Commissioner of Prisons. • Correspondence Inmates are allowed to write and receive letters. But these are censored. The frequency of writing range from quarterly to monthly, depending on the status of an inmate, eg. remand, convict, good behaviour, and need or urgency of the matter. • Health There are three trained dispensers who are also prison officers. One of them comes weekly to attend to the inmates. Serious cases are referred to the hospital. Doctors, including specialists also come from Royal Victoria Hospital, when necessary. • Remand Inmates sometimes spend more than one year in remand custody. But they cannot be kept up to 9 months without a warrant. Remand was increasingly becoming a problem in the prison. 13