Will Kolbe Foundation’s Contract to Manage Prison Be Renewed?

In 2002, the Kolbe Foundation, a private, non-profit organisation, was approved by the government to manage the Belize Central Prison.

However, reports to News 5 are that the foundation’s contract has yet to be renewed. This has been the case since June 2024, according to reports. We are also told that officials from the foundation and government are expected to meet soon to discuss the terms of the contract, including its value.

Before the Kolbe Foundation was contracted, abuse among staff and inmate violence were common. The Belize Central Prison was notorious for its overcrowded conditions, with prisoners often sleeping on the floor surrounded by filth and lacking basic sanitation.

Under the Kolbe Foundation’s management, the prison, which houses about 1,150 inmates, now offers a functioning sewer system, potable water, and adequate bedding. With 2,100 available beds across more than 30 buildings, the facility also provides a range of rehabilitation and social programs.

Despite the prison’s operating cost of just $7 per inmate per day—significantly lower than the nearly $100 spent on each U.S. prisoner—the Kolbe Foundation’s focus is on rehabilitation. Inmates now have access to addiction treatment, educational opportunities to earn primary school certificates, and vocational courses in fields like mechanical repair, construction, woodworking, and welding. Some prisoners even run their own daily radio station, and a select group serves on an advisory board to voice inmate concerns. This rehabilitative approach has helped reduce recidivism.