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UK Money For JA Prisons

The UK is pumping big money into Jamaica’s prison system.

A total of three million pounds (sterling) or about J$354 million is being injected into a new plan to improve the rehabilitative capacity of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

The programme, aimed at reducing the 23 per cent recidivism (relapse into crime) in the island's penal institutions, will also provide support for deportees, including the establishment of a hostel/reception centre for them.

The initiative, known as the programme for the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders and deported persons, was approved by Cabinet on Monday. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed with the United Kingdom this weekend.

The three-year programme will respond to the needs of and for rehabilitation and reintegration of local offenders and deported persons. MacMillan said it will build the capacity of his ministry as well as the Department of Correctional Services and civil society to effectively rehabilitate and reintegrate them.

The objectives of the programme are to improve the effectiveness of the Correctional Services in reducing recidivism; and enhance the programmes and services to facilitate the reintegration of offenders and deportees into society.

According to National Security Minister, Colonel Trevor MacMillan,"There are no structured programmes in place to facilitate reintegration of deported persons into our society and, although the Correctional Services are doing a tremendous job with the little resources they have, there is little access to similar programmes for persons released from local institutions."

MacMillan said that on average about 23 per cent of the 1,800 offenders, who are released from correctional institutions annually, are convicted of another offence within two years. Source : www.jamaicaobserver.com

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