Prison officer concerned about ex-inmates

Prison Officer of the Dominica State Prison Kenrick Jean-Jacque said laws should be put in place to cater for offenders after they have left the penitentiary.

Jean-Jacque was at the time making a presentation on the challenges through rehabilitation and re-integration of substance abusers as part of the observance of Drug Awareness Month.

He said the current program for offenders at the state’s prisons does not cater for inmates when they leave.

“The prisons has very little jurisdiction over the people that have been released and we are losing some of the work that is being done at the prison because when they go back into society they re-offend. What we would like to see is some kind of aftercare when they are released from the prisons,” he said.

Jean-Jacque is suggesting some kind of follow-up in the community.

“I would like to suggest that probation officers be attached to the prisons and upon release they would follow the inmates and the progress that we have made doesn’t just go back down the drain,” he added.

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21 Comments

  1. Jaime Lewis
    January 16, 2011

    Great idea for linking ex-cons to community based programs to reduce the rate at which they reoffend and end up returning to prison. The question is, how do we pay for those programs?
    – If these programs are to be run by the government, then there must be funding. How will government fund these programs? New grants from donors? Increasing the tax base? Making cuts in other sectors?
    – What about private organizations? What about NGOs that could focus on these programs? Maybe finding the funding from regional or international donor organizations.

    There is a cost to every social program. Nothing comes cheap. However, not having these programs will cost us more in the long run.

    • Gen
      January 17, 2011

      You are so right

  2. Muslim_Always
    January 16, 2011

    In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

    The idea of rehabilitation programmes is an idea to really implement. However, it is so sad in Dominica that we jump on to any idea. Ask yourself, how many clinical psychologists, boot camp, intervention programmes are there in America then ask yourself, why is it almost every second there is a murder, a rape or some other heinous crime? The reality is in our country there is an augment in criminal behaviour and the root is not tackled or we are simply hypocritical as a people and fail to see the root of the issue!

    Dominicans do not want to tackle the issue of crime. All they want to do is pray with their eyes closed but that alone will not work. ‘God helps those who helps themselves.’ Crime needs to be tackled practically on a national level.

  3. religious
    January 15, 2011

    Government has a rehab at the back of SMP at the old Scout Headquarters and I know that many prisoners go there when they leave prison. I have seen many persons who have been in prison doing very well at that facility. I also saw them on TV and I think DNO that you should commend the Government for putting such a facility in place. Dominica needs something like that when we see what drugs is doing to our beloved country. That is what good government is all about, so please DNO let the people know what the Government is doing.

    • teacher
      January 15, 2011

      If you are talking about behind the SMP, the rehab there is not a Government facility. That rehab belongs to Bonti Liverpool the Scoutmaster from Grand Bay.

  4. MAD
    January 14, 2011

    On point with this idea. To do this it will cost money.

    The training of the probation officers,Offices,cars and a half way house to be built or rented. If the tax payer are all for it then we must do just that.

    Must say this is a good one but a finanical value must be attach.

  5. UP FOR GRAB
    January 14, 2011

    good vibs KJ. we also need to see the work releast program introduce to Cat D inmates after serving long term prisonment . re introduce them to the community.

  6. Pharm
    January 14, 2011

    Kenrick, this is a very very good idea !
    But the sad part is that the people in power fail to take up on those brilliant initiatives.
    Oh Dominica ! ! ! How sad ! ! !

    • Me
      January 15, 2011

      Whats to oppose about this statement? so many good ideas and propositions are made to the powers that be in various administrations and organizations but are not take up. Reality!

  7. Lady
    January 14, 2011

    Great Ideas! Some of these guys have lots of talent…. I Know they even tailoring up there! They used to be able to make great jackets that fit! LOL That way ‘no one’ will be sung about by the “Trend Setter” LOL…..

  8. Miami
    January 14, 2011

    Thats a great idea!!! Dominica should have half way houses and programs at the prison. They shoud be able to continue their education.

    The prisoners in the USA pick up trash off the high ways. Let them help to beautify the place, plant
    flowers, clean the city. They can learn a trade

    • Miss u
      January 15, 2011

      You just missed the point Miami… he said AFTER prison because they have all these services u mentioned right now. They do all these things, they learn trades and take part in city beautification.

  9. Beautiful
    January 14, 2011

    NEED TO SAY THAT TO SKERRIT WITHT HAT LAW HE TRYIN TO PASS THERE REAGARDING PARENTING..

  10. A . Chris Joseph
    January 14, 2011

    Kenrick’s observations are right on target. When the State Prison is done with its task, offenders are released to do whatsoever they wish, even reoffend. So it seems that the focus is on jailing offenders, not rehabilitating them.The monies spent on incarceration could be substantially reduced if some monies were simultaneously spent on rehabilitation, behavioural modification and capacity improvement for offenders. Actually, I believe that the authorities belive so too! Financial constraints may be cited as the barrier. Notwithstanding, public discussion on a reform of treatment of offenders may be timely.
    I wish Kenrick and other reformers the best of efforts and I just hope that those with the power to initiate reform are listening and reading.

  11. Godson
    January 14, 2011

    Thats is very good what the officer is saying, they just dont want to lock up guys but when they live they dont want to see them come back for the same things..Probation officers would do a great deal to the wellfare of this inmates when they live the Prisons..

  12. linky
    January 14, 2011

    this is the way to chat forward.

  13. cool
    January 14, 2011

    :wink: cool would like to see cxc’s that alone with trade programs excellent idea.

  14. respect
    January 14, 2011

    i like that idea . at least one out of ten would be a better individual . good thinking sir

  15. van
    January 14, 2011

    Good suggestion, which should be implemented

  16. Dominican Abroad
    January 14, 2011

    half way houses, rehab, help them re-integrate. is there a school program at the prison, some people who go in there never finished high school, it would be good if they did, allow themt o do some cxc , when they get out they can maybe find a job, then they hve no excuses.

    • yep
      January 14, 2011

      So some guy must kill a person or persons and then go to jail and come out with CXC subjects under innocent, hardworking Dominican’s tax dollars…i dont think so. Prison shuld be a form of punishment…. not a way to leach off law abiding citizens…A zebra cant change its stripes..

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