Stigmatisation overshadowing ex-offenders

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I was born and raised in south St Andrew where crime remains a serious risk. The journey of ex-offenders towards reintegration is fraught with challenges, and sadly, there are scarce opportunities for them to rebuild their lives, posing a significant barrier to the realisation of a promising future.

According to data from the World Prison Brief, in 2022, Jamaica’s prison population was 3,559. Former Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson said that roughly 1,000 inmates are released from prison each year. What is the process for equipping ex-offenders while incarcerated to reintegrate them positively?

The Gleaner reported in 2023, “Jamaica’s correctional system is offering a variety of skills training and educational opportunities for inmates to ease their reintegration into society as well as reduce recidivism rates at the facilities”. In the same article, the acting Commissioner of Rehabilitation at the Department of Correctional Services Marc Thomas, stated that “inmates can benefit from vocational options such as auto mechanics, tailoring, food and nutrition and health (sciences), barbering, agriculture, data operation, cosmetology, plumbing, masonry, and welding, among others”.

While this might be factual, what is being done is not impacting ex-offenders reintegration into society nor is it reducing recidivism rates. There is a disjointed approach in how we deal with and execute our state responsibilities. The support mechanism/process for reintegration should start from day one of incarceration to ex-offenders’.

The then Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security Zavia Mayne told JIS News in 2022 that in the past three to five years, Jamaica consistently experienced a recidivism rate of approximately 40 per cent. This statistic not only underscores a significant challenge within the criminal justice system, but also emphasises the urgent need for proactive measures to break the cycle of re-offending.

Until we learn to connect the dots, what is done in terms of rehabilitation and reintegration is fruitless, hence the questions are as such:

a. While we might have improved on education/vocational training in prisons, are we offering psychological, emotional, and behavioural support to our inmates in a holistic way?

b. Are we offering regular social services support to ascertain difficulties once released?

c. Do we have community outreach workers to meet with families to discuss the inmates’ needs once released?

d. Are we interested in exploring needs-based assessments among the ex-offender population to assess their true needs?

a. If not placed on probation, what support is given to the ex-offender once released?

SHARI-ANN HENRY

Junior Opposition

Spokesperson on Justice and

Human Rights