KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has launched a comprehensive national initiative combining legislative reform with practical skills training to combat recidivism rates. Between 2020 and 2023, 467 incarcerated individuals obtained certification in various vocational skills including hair braiding, masonry, carpentry, and tiling. Notably, two participants advanced to earn associate degrees in business administration.
The program represents a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, Ministry of National Security and Peace, HEART/NSTA Trust, and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon unveiled these achievements while piloting the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act through the Senate, which passed unanimously on Friday following its December approval in the House of Representatives.
Minister Morris Dixon emphasized the government’s commitment to empowerment, stating, ‘There is so much value in all our people. Their lives do not end at the prison walls.’ The legislative amendments provide a mechanism for reformed offenders to obtain a fresh start, addressing what the minister described as ‘the predictable result of unmet criminogenic needs and re-entry barriers’ including unstable housing, limited job prospects, untreated substance abuse, and fractured support networks.
The government’s Plan Secure Jamaica incorporates rehabilitation and reintegration as core components of national security strategy. The DCS implements individualized case management beginning at intake, featuring risk assessments followed by structured programming encompassing academic education, vocational training, psychosocial support, and life skills development. Simultaneously, Jamaica’s restorative justice infrastructure facilitates community-level conflict resolution and diversion programs.
This multifaceted approach recognizes that sustainable reduction in recidivism requires addressing both systemic barriers and individual rehabilitation needs, positioning Jamaica as an innovator in criminal justice reform.