PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Persons convicted of petty or non-violent crimes in this parish now have the option of doing community service, instead of jail time, a move that is estimated to save taxpayers over $300,000 for each person who avoids incarceration.

On Thursday, Portland joined Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Manchester, and St James in implementing the community service order, which has already been credited with dealing with 1,419 cases since a project was launched to push the penalty option three years ago.

Since the project was developed 1,419 persons have opted for community service — including 70 from Portland.

“Since the project started 1,007 (cases) have (been) closed and of that number approximately 900 have closed satisfactorily. Sixty-five persons have obtained employment with different organisations and 35 have gone back to do voluntary service. They have been commended at places where they have worked and the cost to do the service is less than if they go to the prison as the community service is $35,000 to $355,000 for imprisonment,” said project manager Ira Porter at Thursday’s launch.

At the ceremony, acting deputy commissioner of corrections, in charge of custodial services, Aileen Stephens, pointed to the benefits of community service:

* benefits to the community from the free labour provided by convicted offenders;

* a reduction of the population in the island’s prisons, long described as overcrowded; and

* the decreased cost to the taxpayer.

Stephens argued that while limited and inaccurate knowledge of the law has fuelled support for tougher sentences, the community service order might improve the public’s knowledge of the law and thereby help curb the current attitude which leans towards harsher penalties.

“We must deepen our relationships so that we become partners and stakeholders in the criminal justice processes. We must have greater public involvement in the probation/community services,” she urged.

She added: “This type of sentencing option allows the community to see the offender’s good conduct as he gives of his labour to the community free of cost during his leisure time. During this period, we must assist these offenders to examine the… offending behaviour that resulted in their apprehension and subsequent punishment by the court.”

The Criminal Justice Act was passed in 1978 with the community service order as one of the non-custodial sentences for law offenders 17 years and older. The community service, which should not interfere with work, religious and school activities, is available to magistrates to use in cases where jail time is not mandatory. It is used for petty, non-violent offenders where the judge may order an individual to serve a number of hours in lieu of going to prison from 40 hours to 360 hours and can go up to 480 hours. This must be done with the convicted offender’s consent.

On Thursday, principal of the Boundbrook Infant School, Lucille Wynter, spoke of the benefits that institution had derived from those working under the programme.

“They have enhanced the school in the beautification and maintenance and they exercised patience in dealing with the children,” she said.

Resident Magistrate Bethram Morrison, who has served in three parishes where it is in use, also spoke glowingly of the system. According to the magistrate, its effectiveness lies with the fact that the offender “does penance under the watch of the community while at the same time the community is rewarded by (his) gratuitous labour”.

“It is by these cumulative means that the garb of change is averted. The success of such a programme hinges on the quality of professionalism that is brought to bear upon it,” RM Morrison added.