Subsequent to the incident, however, they charged him with resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. These charges were before the court at year's end. The police concluded investigations into two cases of alleged police brutality brought to their attention in 1996 by the local human rights association, maintaining that officers involved had done nothing wrong. The human rights organization has not accepted this conclusion, in view of the evidence, including photographic evidence, of apparent brutality. The authorities dismissed two officers following this incident and disciplined two others, but conducted no criminal proceedings.
Prison conditions are poor.
Antiquated and overcrowded prisons, with over 400 inmates in a prison designed for 75, result in serious health and safety problems. These conditions are particularly harsh for juvenile offenders. There is a small facility for delinquent boys, but it is seriously inadequate and is generally used for those already convicted through the criminal system. Although separate legal statutes exist for youthful offenders, there are no separate magistrates or prosecutors to handle such cases. The Government appealed the decision to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.