A religious leader here has called on officials to make education and training an integral part of the daily regime at the Dominica State Prison situated in Stockfarm.
According to Rev. Peter R. Augustine research has shown that offenders who receive an education or are able to get skills training are less likely to commit offences after doing jail time.
“Prison staff should be enabled and empowered to encourage offenders to participate in learning through the use of these incentives,” he said during an A GANAR symposium at the prison on Wednesday. “Prison education too often fail to build on offenders existing skills and what they have picked up previously during their sentences.”
He noted further that structured educational programs and drug treatment programs in the prisons will have a positive impact on the offender, significantly reduce crime and save millions of dollars in policing, prosecution and re-incarceration.
Augustine emphasized the need for housing, job training, employment, positive social and family support, a change in the way society regards inmates and financial assistance as requirements which need to be met.
He said courses should be included as part of the prison sentence for offenders serving short sentences.
“If we want to serve young males or others heavily embedded in crime, we have to focus on motivating individuals to change rather than simply providing skills or a job,” he said. “True change will only occur if people embedded in crime decide to change their way of thinking, with the help of the Holy Spirit and change their life styles.”
Augustine warned that the program should be continued in the prison and the island and should not be forgotten after a few months. He also called on the government of Dominica to place more focus on prison reform and making the prison more self sufficient.
Minister for National Security, Immigration and Labour, Charles Savarin, expressed the hope that the skills acquired by the inmates through the program will be put into practice after they leave the prison.
According to him, the program has given the inmates market driven skills which would enable them to make a living for themselves after they have left the prison. He encouraged them to to be role models and help deter others from committing crimes and coming to prison.
The A GANAR program was started at the prison in February 2013. Thirty inmates are currently enrolled in the program. A GANAR which means “to win” as well as “to earn”, is a program geared at giving at risk youth an opportunity to learn various skills.
The program is funded by USAID and and is implemented in Dominica by Dominica Partners of the Americas.
Five (5) institutions are implementing the program on the island.
While prison education is a worthile venture, I think more resorcesshould be spent educating the family units of Dominica so that they can have more control over the quality of children ( and later, adults) they unleash on our society.
As a former teacher i can honestly say that in most cases, the problems begin while these people are young children and adolescents.
If parents learn the skills ( thats right I said LEARN. Because honestly, its not everyone who are born with these skills), to raise psycologically and emotionally sound human beings I believe we would have much less prisoners out there.
At present,To take tax payers hard earned money and spend on prison education would be a bad idea. The country is in need of more important services such as paramedics and foresnsic units.We will see more benefits from investing in educating law abiding citizens with skills that the country really needs first.
After this is done we can spend money on people who messed up their lives
This is an excellent idea which the government should endorse and make it possible. Those prisoners do need to be educated; some further educated. If they are left to languish in prison, they will never learn anything. They will be bitter and if released may re-offend.
They must learn about love, respect and dignity for others, their life and the value of same.
Yes! They do need God in their life, to worship him, submit to him and to pray to him. Therefore, with no hesitation, please implement it and keep up this good work.
God’s blessing on those who do their utmost to assist the prisoners to change their lifestyle. Dominicans will also benefit from it.
Cart before the horse. If they had gotten the “training and education” instead of all the bad things they got themselves involved in; maybe they wouldn’t be sitting in prison. Or do they need to enter prison first to be eligible for an education??
DNO what was wrong with my comment that caused all you not to publish it.
Is the comment from Cohenval better than mine or was my english too cultured for your medium?
First of they “should not” have a choice once they are in prison, they need to learn that there’s consequences for their actions, and when they come into the prison system its not about what they want anymore. They obviously did like the freedom on the outside. Make it mandatory, I bet you they won’t want to return.
I hope Peter R. Augustine’s beloved PM and Government listens and provides the funding and expertise required to make the prison realize his vision for it.
Then again do they ever listen to good advice?
Yes Mr. Savarin, can you continue to control or monitor an inmate after leaving the prison? The reason for me saying this you are saying “the program WILL be put into practice after they leave the prison” I think the word ” should” would sound more appropriate
Well ofcourse the program sounds wonderful and the Govt. should see to it that it being implemented
While I commend this proposal, I think even more important is the effort to prevent them from getting to that point in the first place. I think the religious leaders should be more committed to evangelizing and this should not be restricted to just going around “talking”. Remember “Jesus went around doing good, healing, setting captives free, feeding the poor, etc. Many of these youths are held captive by drugs and witchcraft activities, or curses spoken over their lives whether known or unknown. They really need help!
It is time titles and positions are set aside and responsibility is exercised. As ministers of God, regardless of title, one ought to serve others and through serving demonstrate the LORD Jesus Christ. This is how people will get to know who the true Jesus is and rest assured, when one tastes and see that Jesus is good they MUST desire to live for Him.
how u going to change things..like noddy? everytime d man outside i have to out mt cutlass close because dierre la rosin people house is his target. wen i put his hand down from my window he will rehab
Its the first time, Rev. Augustine have said something that makes sense to me. But again I might be stupid and not know it because I am a thorough bred Dominican
i concur