On June 20, 2021, under the title ‘Ignore prisoner rehabilitation at our own peril’, we wrote in this space: “Sensible nations understand the dangers of ignoring the need for meaningful prisoner rehabilitation, conscious that the majority of inmates will return to society to unleash whatever skills — good or bad — new experiences and habits they have developed.

“The 1970s were the golden era of prisoner rehabilitation for Jamaica. Since then there have been efforts at reform, but these, at best, have been sporadic, often lukewarm, and dependent on who was minister of national security or the commissioner of corrections.”

The current dispensation of prisoner rehabilitation under minister of state in the Ministry of National Security and Peace Mrs Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn promises much, at least on the surface. Dare we hope that she will stay the course? For sure, the nice-sounding words coming out of the junior minister’s PR department are encouraging and hopeful:

“The high fences and guarded gates of Jamaica’s juvenile correctional centres may suggest confinement and punishment. However, behind those walls, a quieter but critical transformation is taking place; one that is not only changing lives, but strengthening national security.”

The ministry tells us that across the juvenile correctional centres — South Camp, Metcalfe Street Secure, and Rio Cobre — programmes are designed to address the full spectrum of needs facing youth offenders, covering educational development; vocational training; behavioural support; and structured recreational engagement.

Under the National Correctional Services Policy, wards engage in subjects such as English language, mathematics, information technology, and home economics, with many preparing for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Complementing academic instruction is emphasis on vocational training as a cornerstone of rehabilitation, providing practical, income-generating skills in areas such as barbering, electrical installation, auto mechanics, farming, robotics, cosmetology, and sewing. These align with labour market needs, increasing the likelihood of employment upon release.

In the area of agriculture, which has been a success story over the years, young men are cultivating vegetable plots and assisting with daily farming activities, gaining practical, hands-on experience while contributing meaningfully to the centre’s daily operations.

Correctional centres are incorporating counselling, mentorship, and creative expression into their programming to provide structured outlets for self-expression, helping wards to process emotions and develop healthier coping mechanisms, thereby addressing issues such as anger management, impulse control, and self-esteem.

We are particularly happy to note that reintegration plans are in place to help determine each ward’s progress and readiness for release. This involves probation officers, mentors, and social workers maintaining contact with former wards, helping them to handle re-entry challenges like returning to school, finding employment, or rebuilding family relationships.

Indeed, we urge all Jamaicans to see prisoner rehabilitation, especially for juveniles, as something we owe to ourselves to invest in, and not merely as a ploy to let out prisoners.

Keep going, Mrs Cuthbert-Flynn and team.