Dear Editor,

As a young man raised in Spanish Town, St Catherine, I witnessed first-hand the chilling impact of crime.

Violence often unfolded not far from my home, yet I found refuge in education — a tool that helped me escape the ever-present pull of criminal activity. My story isn’t unique; it reflects the dual realities of countless Jamaican youth who are either drawn into crime or strive to escape it.

To further understand the driving forces behind youth involvement in crime, I conducted a detailed survey of 400 residents in St James, a parish notorious for its high crime rates. The findings provide a deeper understanding of why young people are driven toward illegal activities and underscore the urgent need for transformative action.

The survey involved a broad demographic: males and females aged 16-35 from varying socio-economic backgrounds. Here’s what we discovered:

*Economic hardship: A staggering 75 per cent of respondents pointed to poverty and unemployment as key factors in their decision to engage in criminal activities. Jamaica’s minimum wage of $13,000 per week was cited as insufficient to cover basic needs.

*Education and crime: 60 per cent of participants with only a primary school education were significantly more likely to report being involved in criminal activities, compared to 20 per cent with a high school diploma and less than 5 per cent of tertiary graduates.

*’Scamming’ as a gateway crime: A shocking 50 per cent of respondents admitted they saw ‘scamming’ as a necessary means of survival. They cited its lucrative nature compared to formal jobs, which often require higher qualifications and offer lower rewards.

*Family influence: Forty per cent of young men reported being introduced to criminal networks by family members or close friends, highlighting the role of social circles in perpetuating crime.

*Mental health crisis: Approximately 35 per cent of respondents admitted to experiencing severe stress, depression, or anxiety, with 20 per cent linking these struggles to their involvement in crime.

Crime in Jamaica continues to evolve, with alarming incidents dominating headlines. In Clarendon, a robbery ended with perpetrators surrendering live on TikTok, an act as baffling as it was brazen. Such events exemplify not only the audacity of modern criminals but also the growing role of social media in crime dynamics. Elsewhere, brutal murders and acts of violence have left communities in mourning, deepening the sense of insecurity.

The survey also highlighted a glaring gap: Jamaica’s limited mental health services. Many youth turn to crime not out of malice but out of desperation and untreated mental health issues. Untreated trauma from witnessing or experiencing violence only worsens the cycle.

Among others, Jamaica has taken the following steps to address its crime problem:

1) Zones of special operations (ZOSOs): A mix of policing and social intervention targeting high-crime areas. While these have shown promise, they are not widespread enough to address the systemic nature of crime.

2) Social investment projects: Organisations like HEART/NSTA Trust offer skills training, but their reach remains limited.

3) National Crime Strategy: This plan targets organised crime but lacks sufficient enforcement and inter-agency collaboration.

The findings from St James inform the following recommendations, which complement existing efforts while introducing innovative solutions:

1) Enhanced economic opportunities: Expand skills training by broadening the reach of vocational programmes and ensure participants receive job placements post-training and incentivise entrepreneurship by providing grants and tax breaks for small businesses started by young people in high-risk areas.

2) Tackle education gaps: Subsidise education costs by reducing or eliminating fees for secondary and tertiary education, particularly for those in rural and inner-city areas, and connect youth with role models/mentors who demonstrate the value of lawful success.

3) Mental health interventions: Deploy trained professionals to provide counselling and crisis intervention in high-risk areas, and integrate mental health screenings and resources in schools, especially those in crime-prone areas.

4) Strengthened community policing: Foster partnerships between police and local leaders to improve trust and gather actionable intelligence, and establish local police units trained specifically to handle youth intervention.

5) Digital crime prevention: Develop social media monitoring tools to detect and prevent criminal activity before it occurs, and launch online campaigns to educate young people on the consequences of crime and offer alternatives.

Crime is not an isolated issue; it’s the symptom of systemic failings in education, the economy, and mental health. Jamaica’s leadership — both governmental and societal — must embrace a multifaceted approach to break the cycle. Strengthening and expanding current programmes while introducing innovative, community-driven solutions is imperative.

To Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the Opposition Leader Mark Golding, and all stakeholders, the time for half-measures has passed. We must invest in our youth, our communities, and our collective future. Together we can turn the tide and build a safer, more prosperous Jamaica. Let us start now.

Janiel McEwan

janielmcewan17@gmail.com