KINGSTON, Jamaica — YARD Empire is using the power of music to transform lives behind bars. Through its recently concluded summer programme at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, the organisation introduced scores of inmates to music theory and methodology, an initiative that organisers say has already shown positive effects on inmate behaviour and well-being.

Founder Iris “Terri” Salmon explained that during the programme, inmates were observed to be less disruptive and reported feeling better overall. Facility workers also noted visible changes in participants’ demeanour and conduct.

“We don’t have research to support our findings just yet but the anecdotal evidence is positive and promising. I’ve long believed that once we start using rehabilitation programmes to address underlying issues [such] as trauma and provide outlets for inmates, we will begin to reap whole of society benefits,” Salmon said.

Salmon noted a growing shift in Jamaica’s approach to incarceration, one that focuses not only on inmates serving their sentences, but on helping them develop skills they can use upon release.

“We don’t just want inmates to serve their time, we are maturing as a society, recognising that these individuals will once again be reintegrated into communities and as such it is important for them to be ready for that time,” said Salmon.

She explained that life behind bars often forces inmates to develop survival mechanisms that can become barriers to reintegration. Programmes like YARD’s, she said, offer a temporary break from the prison environment by simulating a classroom setting where inmates can focus on learning rather than survival.

While acknowledging the critical role of existing Department of Correctional Services support programmes, Salmon emphasised the need for more educational and skills-based initiatives. She pointed to a RAND Corporation study, which found that prison education and vocational training significantly reduce reoffending and increase post-release employment opportunities.

“The studies are promising, and what we are teaching are things that the inmates already have a genuine interest in, such as music,” she said. “We go beyond just exploring the transformative power of music; we teach the nuts and bolts that can help individuals earn.”

YARD Empire’s summer initiative was divided into three components: creative writing, reading music, and a course on gender-based violence led by instructors from the Bureau of Gender Affairs.

Inmates at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre participating in YARD Empire’s summer initiative.