David Salmon | Promote prison enterprises to reduce recidivism

It is a fact that repeat offenders are responsible for the occurrence of many crimes in Jamaica. Despite this observation, very little discussion is facilitated on how to reduce recidivism among our prison population. In most discussions, the emphasis is on achieving retribution, which has so far failed in rehabilitating incarcerated individuals. Simply check social media and you will see that penitence has been replaced by partying in correctional institutions.

In fact, according to the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) ‘Survey of Individuals Deprived of Liberty: Caribbean 2016–2019’, Jamaica has a recidivism rate of 42.3 per cent in 2017. This means almost one in two persons in prison are repeat offenders. This finding illustrates the failings of the penal system in achieving its purpose.

An even more alarming finding is that one in five inmates interviewed were young men between the ages of 18 and 24. Almost half, or 48.8 per cent, of incarcerated men did not complete their secondary education. Thus, it is very disconcerting that typical inmates are young men below the age of 35 who are high-school dropouts.

Furthermore, seven out of every 10 inmates previously incarcerated did not participate in any classes or rehabilitative programmes while serving their sentence. Although, for those who did learn a trade, most of them found the skill useful. Unfortunately, almost half of respondents identified that school or work programmes were not available at their correctional institution.

Simply put, our correctional facilities are manufacturing plants churning out newly minted hardened criminals that now possess a greatly expanded islandwide network. There is no doubt that Jamaica needs to do more for rehabilitation.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the IDB recommends that the Department of Correctional Services should “provide the necessary funding to expand basic and secondary education programmes as well as vocational training and employment opportunities, and increase individual change interventions”.

Even if inmates learn new skills, they are still at a disadvantage due to the culture of suspicion that surrounds them. An October 13, 2019 Gleaner article highlighted this issue as the headline reads, ‘No jobs for ex-convicts - Former inmate says Gov’t rejection a Negative Signal To Private Employers’. If the Government is responsible for rehabilitation and they are not willing to employ these individuals, clearly there is a problem. This example highlights the challenges former inmates will face in the labour market.

The provision of more educational opportunities and the introduction of prison enterprises (PEs) can be used to achieve the goal of rehabilitation. This new approach is tailored to the needs of inmates and incorporates several important principles such as transformation, reintegration, responsibility and incentives.

TRANSFORMATION

Providing more opportunities to pursue secondary and tertiary education is necessary to transform rehabilitation centres in Jamaica. Through this process, important skills such as budgeting, financial management and conflict resolution can be taught. This would ensure that incarcerated individuals can monetarise their skills upon release.

Last November, it was reported that 75 per cent of 87 persons who took CSEC exams passed at least one subject. This represents a good start. However, with a prison population of over 3,600 inmates, a comprehensive educational curriculum is needed to address this inadequacy.

Second, inmates should be encouraged to start enterprises that utilise their talents and skills learned. For example, those who are musically inclined can capitalise on their creative abilities to produce work, while being assisted by other trained prisoners. The objective is to transform the perception of prisoners by infusing a sense of independence gained from having a skill.

RESPONSIBILITY

Deductions for victims and dependents can be made from these earnings, which would ensure that participants demonstrate a sense of responsibility. Moreover, a correctional services tax can be introduced, which would achieve the following objectives:

i. Limit the extent to which prisoners are a burden on the public purse;

ii. Contribute to the repair and construction of prison infrastructure;

iii. Subsidise education and skills training; and

iv. Provide venture capital for new prison enterprises.

REINTEGRATION

Additionally, the prison enterprise programme will aid in the reintegration of offenders by allowing them the opportunity to learn new skills, hone their abilities, and provide post-release support for former inmates. Since former inmates will have a challenge finding employment due to their criminal records, PEs can ensure that they achieve financial independence.

Profit from PEs can also go into a government-run fund which would disburse resources to released offenders. This fund would ensure that prisoners who are released at a very old age would receive the necessary care.

INCENTIVES

Additionally, to reduce reluctance among some prisoners, special consideration for reduced sentences can be given, provided that other requirements are met. Providing this incentive is not a matter of being soft on crime, but being smart with rehabilitation.

I am acutely aware that readers may be aghast at the implications of some of these suggestions. However, this programme has been successfully introduced in Uruguay, which has a higher rate of recidivism than Jamaica. In Punta de Rieles prison, incarcerated individuals form businesses staffed by fellow inmates that offer products within the prison walls and the wider society.

For example, there are school workshops, bakeries, barbershops, a block factory, a carpenter shop and even a candy store, where inmates offer goods and services to customers. Even sporting equipment is made within prison walls. Capital for these enterprises is provided my inmates’ families and administered through a quasi-bank operated by the inmates themselves.

The Associated Press News reported that, “Ten percent of the profits go back to that fund, another 10 per cent goes to the government for use of the facilities and 10 per cent goes to an association of victims of crime. The rest goes into accounts for the inmates, though they can’t fully access it until they are released.” Jamaica can utilise this existing model for prison enterprises.

Currently, an informal economy already exists within correctional facilities. Introducing PEs not only formalises this economy, but also encourages the entrepreneurial spirit of inmates while promoting their rehabilitation. Picture a day in the not-so-distant future where inmates can successfully give up criminality for creativity.

David Salmon serves as a commissioner for the Early Childhood Commission. To send feedback, he may be contacted at davidsalmon@live.com or tweet him @DavidSalmonJA.