open by the end of July, Government announced yesterday.

Clarence Terrace, near Westgate Correctional Facility, has been earmarked for the half-way house for inmates.

It is expected it will cost some $400,000 a year to run.

Yesterday Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira said the project was an exciting venture.

He added the aim was to slash Bermuda's recidivism rate -- the number of repeat offenders.

"I will probably go up to the site next week to check on progress, but we now plan to open at the end of July.'' Plans for a half-way house have been in the pipeline for some time.

In July, 1994, a comprehensive proposal paper on the scheme was completed and presented to the then Social Services Minister Quinton Edness.

Government accepted the concept of a halfway house when it took on board the Judge Stephen Tumim Report on Bermuda's criminal justice system.

The report also suggested Government exploit the Island's volunteer sector in a bid to cut the prison population.

"We recommend that consideration should be given to the idea of a half-way house as suggested by Prison Fellowship and the Salvation Army, who have both offered to establish and operate such a facility,'' the report stated.

Yesterday Dr. Terceira explained prisoners would start receiving help before completion of their sentences.

"Perhaps three or four months before their release, they would get into the half-way house,'' he said. "They would have to be employed and we are looking at ways of getting employment for them. Over the weekends they would be expected to stay at the halfway house.

"Once they leave they should be able to cope with returning to society.'' Dr. Terceira said the centre would only be available to well-behaved prisoners who had earned a certain "grade'' of trust.

"All prisoners are graded, and only those of a certain grade will be allowed into the halfway house.

"We cannot afford to take a chance on prisoners who are likely to run away.'' Three years ago, it was reckoned the centre would accommodate about 15 former inmates to begin with, possibly expanding at a later date.

But Dr. Terceira thought the figure could be overly ambitious.

"I don't have all the facts and figures before me, but I don't think it would accommodate quite as many to start with.'' Dr. Terceira pointed out some $450,000 had been set aside in this year's Budget for the halfway house.

"The project will be Government funded,'' he added.

It is estimated it costs the Country $36,000 year to keep a prisoner behind bars.