New York USA–Two of the many Jamaican organisations operating here have joined forces with the North Bronx Seventh-day Adventist Church hoping to prevent the Incarceration of at-risk youths and young adults.

“The aim is to bring awareness to these vulnerable groups about the consequences of incarceration,” said Ronnie Hammick, president of the Ex- Correctional Officers Association of Jamaica; Mark A Parkinson of the Jamaica Ex – Soldiers Association and Benjamin Powell, senior elder of the North Bronx church.

Plans are currently being finalised by the groups and the church, for a June 30 seminar, at which speakers will address participants on the many dangers of incarceration. Topics will include: “Good decision-making and “Accountability and Integrity”, Powell told the Jamaica Observer.

Hammick and Parkinson added that other topics to be discussed at the seminar, will look at issues such as how incarceration can ruin lives , the human and financial toll it takes on families, the loss of freedom and the stigma it leaves on those who go through the correctional system.

Both groups and the church say that speakers for the seminar are being sourced from law enforcement agencies such as the New York Police and Probation Departments, Family Unification and Resettlement Initiative (FURI) as well as persons who have been incarcerated, among others.

The event will take place at the Church which is situated at 3743 Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx, and organisers are working to get a large public response.

“This is imperative because we think the message needs to go out in a big way so we can save as many of our young

people from incarceration,” Hammick said.

Harold Bailey can be reached at gandhihgj2@aol.com