The Secretary of the Presidency, Andrew Bradford, stressed in Ponta Delgada this afternoon that the Region has been demanding for several years, decent conditions for its inmates, thereby improving the efficiency of its own prison and justice system.
The Secretary spoke at the ceremony to formalise the transfer of land by the Regional Government to the Ministry of Justice, for the construction of new prison in Ponta Delgada and for the awarding of the call for tenders for the construction of the new prison in Angra do Heroísmo. 
The awarding of the works regarding the construction of a prison on Terceira Island, which is estimated to house house 216 inmates, built in an area of 52 thousand square meters, with an approximate global cost of 25.5 million Euros and a completion period of two and half years is the first of the these actions to be carried out.
 The second action concerns the transfer of land by the Government of the Azores for the construction of a new prison on S. Miguel, to be built in the village of Pico da Pedra in the municipality of Ribeira Grande. It will be located outside the urban perimeter of this village, in an area near the highway Ponta Delgada/Ribeira Grande. 
 
The new infrastructure, with an estimated completion period of two years after the awarding, will have a capacity for 300 inmates, representing an investment of 25 million Euros.
 
In this context, it is important to emphasise the works of restoration and adaptation of the Marquês da Praia Palace which are being carried out at the present moment.
 
With this project now in progress, representing a 25 million Euro investment, Ponta Delgada will have a real judicial network, integrating the Family and Youth Court, the Labour Court and the Administrative Court in modern and adequate facilities; therefore, bringing closer and taking advantage of the adjoining buildings in order to install common support services, in a action with undeniable benefits for all the users as well as for the workers, mentioned André Bradford. 
On the other hand, the Secretary assured that the negotiation regarding the installation of the Notary and Registry Offices of Vila Franca do Campo in a new Court building is moving ahead.
In this context, André Bradford also reminded that the Government needs to solve the issue of the District of Santa Maria Island, a matter to be solved in the next legislative period. 
 
The Regional Secretary expressed his satisfaction towards the good cooperation between the governments of the Republic and of the Azores, through an investment effort of the Ministry of Justice in the Azores, providing dignity and quality to the prisons of S. Miguel and Terceira.