Crime in Jamaica
Introduction
VIOLENT CRIMES CONSTITUTE one of the greatest social problems facing Jamaica at this time. Over the past two decades, Jamaica has experienced an unparalleled increased in homicides and violent assaults. Many attempts made throughout the years to reduce the number of violent crimes occurring in the island have mainly been short-term measures, aimed predominantly at increasing Police mobility and firepower and have ultimately proved to be unsustainable.
EARLY IN THE present academic year the Faculty of Social Sciences, with the encouragement and support of PVC Professor Kenneth Hall, principal of the Mona Campus, U.W.I., spearheaded an initiative by the University to assemble its various scholars from across the faculties, to propose long term strategies, which could effectively lead to a reduction in violent crimes and the overall levels of aggression in the country. This document represents a consultative approach to the problem of crime fighting and violence reduction and is intended to provide a more comprehensive and sustained response to this grave problem plaguing our nation.
THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS included scholars, from the three campuses of the University of the West Indies, scholars from Northern Caribbean University, from the University of Technology, from our community colleges, theological colleges and seminaries, our teachers colleges, as well as from the other tertiary level institutions across the island. To guide and focus the deliberations, a team of scholars, namely, Professor Freddie Hickling, from the Faculty of Medical Sciences; Dr Wilma Bailey from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, and Professor Bernard Headley and Dr Anthony Harriott from the Faculty of Social Sciences, all from the Mona Campus, U.W.I., prepared a working paper around which the discussions were centred. The first of these discussions were held on October 28, 2000, after which the original working document was extensively updated and revised, in
VIOLENT CRIMES CONSTITUTE one of the greatest social problems facing Jamaica at this time. Over the past two decades, Jamaica has experienced an unparalleled increased in homicides and violent assaults. Many attempts made throughout the years to reduce the number of violent crimes occurring in the island have mainly been short-term measures, aimed predominantly at increasing Police mobility and firepower and have ultimately proved to be unsustainable.
EARLY IN THE present academic year the Faculty of Social Sciences, with the encouragement and support of PVC Professor Kenneth Hall, principal of the Mona Campus, U.W.I., spearheaded an initiative by the University to assemble its various scholars from across the faculties, to propose long term strategies, which could effectively lead to a reduction in violent crimes and the overall levels of aggression in the country. This document represents a consultative approach to the problem of crime fighting and violence reduction and is intended to provide a more comprehensive and sustained response to this grave problem plaguing our nation.
THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS included scholars, from the three campuses of the University of the West Indies, scholars from Northern Caribbean University, from the University of Technology, from our community colleges, theological colleges and seminaries, our teachers colleges, as well as from the other tertiary level institutions across the island. To guide and focus the deliberations, a team of scholars, namely, Professor Freddie Hickling, from the Faculty of Medical Sciences; Dr Wilma Bailey from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, and Professor Bernard Headley and Dr Anthony Harriott from the Faculty of Social Sciences, all from the Mona Campus, U.W.I., prepared a working paper around which the discussions were centred. The first of these discussions were held on October 28, 2000, after which the original working document was extensively updated and revised, in