Use of Prison Cubes

Summary

The request sought data on non-day release inmates occupying prison cubes and details on their management; the authority disclosed that no such occupancy data is recorded but provided context on the unit's purpose and referenced previous FOI responses.

Key Facts

• The Department of Home Affairs does not hold data on non-day release inmates occupying prison cubes broken down by year, month, gender, or category.
• Progression to Restricted Day Release (RDR) while in the cabins is not separately recorded.
• The Juliette Unit was implemented to ease increasing prison population and avoid overcrowding residential wings.
• Some prisoners are risk-assessed to work unsupervised on the unit for upkeep if they meet specific risk thresholds.
• Further information on the purpose and management of the cubes is available in previous FOI requests 3931369 and 3951381.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-10-06
• 2025-10-24
• 4984033
• 3931369
• 3951381
• IM2 5AP
• 01624 687017

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held or cannot be found after taking reasonable steps

Original Request

Prison cubes (a) These are supposed to be for day release. Please state how many non-day release inmates have occupied these cubes (by year, month, gender and category of inmate) (b) Please describe the exact purpose of the cubes, how they are supposed to be managed and any lapses in the management of said cubes

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 4984033 24 October 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 6 October 2025, which states:

"Prison cubes

(a) These are supposed to be for day release. Please state how many non-day release inmates have occupied these cubes (by year, month, gender and category of inmate)

(b) Please describe the exact purpose of the cubes, how they are supposed to be managed and any lapses in the management of said cubes"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. Specifically, data regarding the occupancy of prison cubes designated for day release, including breakdowns by year, month and category for non-day release inmates. For Example, while some prisoners may progress to Restricted Day Release (RDR) whilst being in the cabins, this progression is not separately recorded.
Under our Duty to provide advice and assistance it is worth noting that the Juliette Unit was implemented as a solution to ease the increasing population and to avoid overcrowding the residential wings, the use of the unit expanded the operational options available to the Department with the fluctuating population. There have been individuals housed on the unit that are risk assessed to work unsupervised for the upkeep of the unit and inside of the prison grounds as long as the prisoner has met the risk threshold initially. There has been no data collected with regards to the requested for non-day release prisoners. However, there is additional information that can be found on previous FOI 3931369 S3.

As for the exact purpose of the cubes, their management, and any lapses in management: Part of this question is answered in my point above, there is also reference on previous FOI 3951381 S4 & 5

Please quote the reference number 4984033 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.