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Details of "Caribbean Umbrella Body For Restorative Behaviour "Date Submitted:
04/09/2008
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The Internet home of the only Caribbean-based umbrella organisation of non-profit organisations which provide assistance to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families and promote restorative justice.
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Trinidad Ex-Prisoner Slams Government on Rehabilitation Pace by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:35:57 GMT:
Wayne Chance, president of Vision on Mission (VOM) has criticised the Trinidad and Tobago government over its slow pace in providing finances and infrastructure to deal with the increasing rate of ex-prisoners returning to the community.<br /><br /> VOM is a Trinidad-based non-profit organisation which assists prisoners in their rehabilitation and re-entry to society. It also conducts a career guidance programme for prisoners at the Maximum Security Prison, Port-of-Spain Prison, Golden Grove Prison and Carrera Island Prison.<br /><br /> Estimating that approximately 300 prisoners will be discharged within the next two months, Chance said that many of these persons will have nowhere to go as transitional accommodation facilities such as the one VOM operates are already overcrowded.<br /><br /> Chance is so incensed over the situation that he has threatened to resign if more is not done to help newly released prisoners reintegrate into society. He said that as crime had soared , his group's work had also increased, but the Government response remained slow.<br /><br /> He said that his group's facility accommodates ex-prisoners as well as deportees from North America which are referred to it by the Ministry of Social Development. At present the facility is home to 30 ex-prisoners although it was initially intended to house 15 such persons.<br /><br /> Citing some of the issues he claimed are hindering prisoner rehabilitation, Chance said Cabinet had already accepted proposals for prison reform, which included placing prisoners in a half-way home for the last six months of their sentence. However, this has not yet been implemented.<br /><br /> Further, in 2007, he claimed that Cabinet approved the purchase of a 3.5 acre property in Central Trinidad for an intransit centre for prisoners. To date, the purchase has not taken place.<br /><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=rHYd0I"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=rHYd0I" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824195" height="1" width="1"/>
Decline in Prison Violence in Jamaica by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:23:32 GMT:
<p align="justify">While violence abounds on the streets of Jamaica, the head of the Department of Correctional Services, Major Richard Reese, has seen a decrease in violent incidents inside the island's penal institutions.</p><p align="justify">Major Reese credits increased rehabilitation programmes and recreational activities for the drop in violent incidents at the Tower Street and St Catherine Adult Correctional Centres by 30 and 46 per cent, respectively. At the Tower Street prison, violent incidents dropped from 204 in 2006 to 144 in 2007, while 16 inmates were victims of violent attacks last year compared to 30 in 2006.</p><p align="justify">The prisons have introduced football, cricket, table games, the information technology lab, a music studio and the prison radio station. They have also started courses in anger management. Inmates have also been permitted to sit external examinations thereby gaining nationally accredited certification in preparation for their return to society.</p><p align="justify">The Department has also improved a system designed to ensure that inmates who have committed non-violent crimes such as fraud, embezzlement and simple larceny are removed from the high risk facilities to medium and low risk institutions. As a result, there are fewer vulnerable prisoners incarcerated with aggressive violent offenders.</p><p align="justify">Churches and charitable organisations also received praise for their activities in operating prison ministries, medical and evangelical missions.</p><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=J6MGZI"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=J6MGZI" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824196" height="1" width="1"/>
Trinidad Man Given Community Service After 6 Die by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:13:30 GMT:
In a recent ruling High Court Judge, Justice Ian Brook sentenced Roland Gokool to 120 hours’ community service after he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of dangerous driving after being charged with the unlawful killing of six people in a 1993 maxi-taxi accident.<br /><br /> Brook ordered Gokool to perform community work within his Couva hometown and to complete it within one year. The judge also disqualified Gokool from holding a driver's licence for the next six months.<br /><br /> Gokool said that the was forced to endure mental and emotional punishment for 15 years following the crash which was due to a technical fault in his vehicle. In that time he was ostracised by society for the lives lost. However, the families of the victims were more<br /> compassionate and understanding towards him.<br /><br /> In addition, the community came out in support of Gokool at the trial and a petition signed by 2,000 Couva residents was presented to the Judge asking the court to have mercy on Gokool since he was a productive and God-fearing man.<br /><br /> Relatives of those who died in the crash, while not angry at Gokool, lamented the fact that no financial compensation was available for them to raise the children of those who lost their lives.<br /><br /><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=4BZJaI"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=4BZJaI" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824197" height="1" width="1"/>
One Day Conference For Jamaican Probation After Care Officers by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:01:50 GMT:
The Jamaican Department of Correctional Services hosted a one day conference on Thursday, June 19, for over 170 Probation After Care Officers under the theme: 'Managing Community Corrections'. <br /><br /> The purpose of the conference was to provide a common understanding to all of the island's Probation After Care Officers of the direction of the organisation and also to update them regarding the trends and practices and how it impacts their role and function as Probation After Care Officers. <br /><br /> The conference also served to provide insight to the officers regarding strategies in dealing with offending behaviour by persons placed on community based sentences.<br /><br /> Probation After Care Officers operate in an offender management programme on a three tiered basis in that they work with the courts, within their communities and within correctional institutions. The officers bear the responsibility to ensure that all persons placed under their care or supervision are rehabilitated to the level where they can operate within their communities as law abiding, peaceful and productive citizens.<br /><br /> Topics discussed in the conference included 'Community Corrections - its Strategies and Techniques for Social Intervention'; 'Performance Management and Appraisal System'; and 'Community Corrections - Embrace the Vision, Keep the Focus.' <br /><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=1QV7hI"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=1QV7hI" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824198" height="1" width="1"/>
Caribbean Police Want To Criminalise Gangs by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:50:22 GMT:
<p align="justify">In several Caribbean territories, including Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, there have been calls in recent times for legislative reform so as to criminalise gang membership, thereby empowering police to pursue criminals based on their gang-related behaviour rather than specific offences.</p><p align="justify">According to Jamaican Assistant Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, with such legislation, where any member of a gang is convicted of any offence the police can arrest all other known members of the gang.</p><p align="justify">Police estimate that there are more than 125 gangs in Jamaica, many of which include people who run errands like picking up money at remittance outlets to finance the gangs' operations; stakeout targets; carry or hide guns for gunmen; and serve as lookouts to warn armed gangsters when members of the security forces enter their communities.</p><p align="justify">Ellington said that the current approach of the criminal justice system, which focuses on the individual, needs to be urgently updated because there has been a transformation of the Jamaican criminal landscape from one-to-one crimes to group offences or gang crimes. The latter are responsible for over 80 per cent of serious crimes in Jamaica - including murders, shooting, extortion, contract killings and carjacking.</p><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=Bp7o6I"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=Bp7o6I" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824199" height="1" width="1"/>
Trinidad Ex-Prisoner Slams Government on Rehabilitation Pace by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:35:57 GMT:
Wayne Chance, president of Vision on Mission (VOM) has criticised the Trinidad and Tobago government over its slow pace in providing finances and infrastructure to deal with the increasing rate of ex-prisoners returning to the community.<br /><br /> VOM is a Trinidad-based non-profit organisation which assists prisoners in their rehabilitation and re-entry to society. It also conducts a career guidance programme for prisoners at the Maximum Security Prison, Port-of-Spain Prison, Golden Grove Prison and Carrera Island Prison.<br /><br /> Estimating that approximately 300 prisoners will be discharged within the next two months, Chance said that many of these persons will have nowhere to go as transitional accommodation facilities such as the one VOM operates are already overcrowded.<br /><br /> Chance is so incensed over the situation that he has threatened to resign if more is not done to help newly released prisoners reintegrate into society. He said that as crime had soared , his group's work had also increased, but the Government response remained slow.<br /><br /> He said that his group's facility accommodates ex-prisoners as well as deportees from North America which are referred to it by the Ministry of Social Development. At present the facility is home to 30 ex-prisoners although it was initially intended to house 15 such persons.<br /><br /> Citing some of the issues he claimed are hindering prisoner rehabilitation, Chance said Cabinet had already accepted proposals for prison reform, which included placing prisoners in a half-way home for the last six months of their sentence. However, this has not yet been implemented.<br /><br /> Further, in 2007, he claimed that Cabinet approved the purchase of a 3.5 acre property in Central Trinidad for an intransit centre for prisoners. To date, the purchase has not taken place.<br /><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=rHYd0I"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=rHYd0I" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824195" height="1" width="1"/>
Decline in Prison Violence in Jamaica by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:23:32 GMT:
<p align="justify">While violence abounds on the streets of Jamaica, the head of the Department of Correctional Services, Major Richard Reese, has seen a decrease in violent incidents inside the island's penal institutions.</p><p align="justify">Major Reese credits increased rehabilitation programmes and recreational activities for the drop in violent incidents at the Tower Street and St Catherine Adult Correctional Centres by 30 and 46 per cent, respectively. At the Tower Street prison, violent incidents dropped from 204 in 2006 to 144 in 2007, while 16 inmates were victims of violent attacks last year compared to 30 in 2006.</p><p align="justify">The prisons have introduced football, cricket, table games, the information technology lab, a music studio and the prison radio station. They have also started courses in anger management. Inmates have also been permitted to sit external examinations thereby gaining nationally accredited certification in preparation for their return to society.</p><p align="justify">The Department has also improved a system designed to ensure that inmates who have committed non-violent crimes such as fraud, embezzlement and simple larceny are removed from the high risk facilities to medium and low risk institutions. As a result, there are fewer vulnerable prisoners incarcerated with aggressive violent offenders.</p><p align="justify">Churches and charitable organisations also received praise for their activities in operating prison ministries, medical and evangelical missions.</p><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=J6MGZI"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=J6MGZI" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824196" height="1" width="1"/>
Trinidad Man Given Community Service After 6 Die by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:13:30 GMT:
In a recent ruling High Court Judge, Justice Ian Brook sentenced Roland Gokool to 120 hours’ community service after he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of dangerous driving after being charged with the unlawful killing of six people in a 1993 maxi-taxi accident.<br /><br /> Brook ordered Gokool to perform community work within his Couva hometown and to complete it within one year. The judge also disqualified Gokool from holding a driver's licence for the next six months.<br /><br /> Gokool said that the was forced to endure mental and emotional punishment for 15 years following the crash which was due to a technical fault in his vehicle. In that time he was ostracised by society for the lives lost. However, the families of the victims were more<br /> compassionate and understanding towards him.<br /><br /> In addition, the community came out in support of Gokool at the trial and a petition signed by 2,000 Couva residents was presented to the Judge asking the court to have mercy on Gokool since he was a productive and God-fearing man.<br /><br /> Relatives of those who died in the crash, while not angry at Gokool, lamented the fact that no financial compensation was available for them to raise the children of those who lost their lives.<br /><br /><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=4BZJaI"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=4BZJaI" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824197" height="1" width="1"/>
One Day Conference For Jamaican Probation After Care Officers by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:01:50 GMT:
The Jamaican Department of Correctional Services hosted a one day conference on Thursday, June 19, for over 170 Probation After Care Officers under the theme: 'Managing Community Corrections'. <br /><br /> The purpose of the conference was to provide a common understanding to all of the island's Probation After Care Officers of the direction of the organisation and also to update them regarding the trends and practices and how it impacts their role and function as Probation After Care Officers. <br /><br /> The conference also served to provide insight to the officers regarding strategies in dealing with offending behaviour by persons placed on community based sentences.<br /><br /> Probation After Care Officers operate in an offender management programme on a three tiered basis in that they work with the courts, within their communities and within correctional institutions. The officers bear the responsibility to ensure that all persons placed under their care or supervision are rehabilitated to the level where they can operate within their communities as law abiding, peaceful and productive citizens.<br /><br /> Topics discussed in the conference included 'Community Corrections - its Strategies and Techniques for Social Intervention'; 'Performance Management and Appraisal System'; and 'Community Corrections - Embrace the Vision, Keep the Focus.' <br /><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=1QV7hI"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=1QV7hI" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824198" height="1" width="1"/>
Caribbean Police Want To Criminalise Gangs by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:50:22 GMT:
<p align="justify">In several Caribbean territories, including Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, there have been calls in recent times for legislative reform so as to criminalise gang membership, thereby empowering police to pursue criminals based on their gang-related behaviour rather than specific offences.</p><p align="justify">According to Jamaican Assistant Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, with such legislation, where any member of a gang is convicted of any offence the police can arrest all other known members of the gang.</p><p align="justify">Police estimate that there are more than 125 gangs in Jamaica, many of which include people who run errands like picking up money at remittance outlets to finance the gangs' operations; stakeout targets; carry or hide guns for gunmen; and serve as lookouts to warn armed gangsters when members of the security forces enter their communities.</p><p align="justify">Ellington said that the current approach of the criminal justice system, which focuses on the individual, needs to be urgently updated because there has been a transformation of the Jamaican criminal landscape from one-to-one crimes to group offences or gang crimes. The latter are responsible for over 80 per cent of serious crimes in Jamaica - including murders, shooting, extortion, contract killings and carjacking.</p><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?a=Bp7o6I"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/yahoo/NlDV?i=Bp7o6I" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/yahoo/NlDV/~4/322824199" height="1" width="1"/>
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