A New Path: Promoting Social and Productive Alternatives for Juvenile Remandees and Offenders in Jamaica

Data

Status

Concluded

Start - End

2014 - 2020

Implementation

Social Networks

@OEA_SegPublica

A New Path sought to promote a healthy emotional environment for the youth in conflict with the law not only within correctional facilities, but upon their release. In this way, New Path helped contribute to the reduction of juvenile recidivism and ultimately, crime and violence in Jamaica.

New Path was comprehensive program to address the emotional, social, educational, technical and economic challenges faced by youth who have been through the justice system.

A New Path improved the quality of and access to reintegration services (educational, vocational, and internship/employment opportunities), technical training (marketable technical skills, life/social skills), as well as individualized psychosocial/emotional services for juvenile remandees and offenders in correctional facilities and up to 18 months after their release.

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Objectives

Contribute to reduce recidivism and, ultimately, crime and violence in Jamaica.
Improve the quality of, and access to, reintegration services, technical training, and individualized psychosocial/emotional services for youth in conflict with the law in Jamaica.
Provide economic and vocational opportunities for the youth that has exited juvenile centres in Jamaica.
Strengthen the capacity of the Department of Correctional Services to offer appropriate care and services to the youth in conflict with the law in Jamaica.

Activities

Development and implementation of a comprehensive reintegration curriculum for all juvenile facilities of Jamaica
Renovation and adaptation of infrastructure of the juvenile facilities to accommodate reintegration activities
Training-of-trainers for the staff of the Department of Correctional Services to provide proper care and attention to the youth in conflict with the law and to deliver reintegration activities
Psychosocial support, vocational and educational courses, and behavior change activities to the remandees and offenders placed in juvenile facilities of Jamaica
Development and implementation of an electronic case management system for juvenile facilities of Jamaica
Offer of individualized post-release support to the youth exiting the juvenile facilities through the assignment of a case manager for at least 6 months.
Vocational and economic opportunities post-release, including entrepreneurship \training, micro-credit, and job placements
28 courses with the collaboration of 13 local organizations.

More Results

Results

2,441 Jamaican youth in conflict with the law have received assistance through the project

2976 Jamaican youth in conflict with the law derived to alternative reintegration programs

1,623 youth successfully completed and received certification in a range of educational and vocational training

271 releasees participated in the three editions of the Pitch It!: Learning and Investing in Your Future

133 Jamaican youth who participated in the Pitch It! Learning and Investing in Your Future received training in entrepreneurship in a residence prog

63 Jamaican youth who participated in the Pitch It! Learning and Investing in Your Future recieved micro-grants to start their own business

22 young Jamaicans who went through the criminal system received training and resources to establish micro-farms in their rural communities (origin)

143 Jamaican youth were enrolled in apprenticeships and received training in technical skills to help them find jobs

2,046 Jamaican youth received psychosocial support with the assignment of a post-release case manager

+ 150 releasees received job opportunities and apprenticeships

+ 160 officers and staff of the Department of Correctional Services trained on strategies and tools to deal with challenging behavior

+ 160 officers and staff of the Department of Correctional Services trained to implement reintegration courses

· In South Camp Correctional Center, Jamaica, 2,900 sqft multi-purpose building was constructed with 3 classrooms, 1 IT lab and a cosmetology area

Beneficiary Countries

Jamaica

Team

Cristian Taboada

Chief of the Security and Justice Section

Susan Ewerse

Local Project Director

Pier Angelli De Luca

Specialist of the Security and Justice Unit

Antonio Delgado

Specialist of the Security and Justice Unit

Mónica Espinoza

Administrative Officer

Camille Jackson

Lead Social Worker/Case Manager Specialist

Kimberly Seymour

Education and Curricula Development Advisor

Lorna Ford

Economic Opportunities Advisor

Kerrel McKay

Operations Specialist

Clyde Lawrence

Operations and Administrative Officer

Annalise Richards

Administrative Assistant

Rodrigo Iriani

The Trust for the Americas

Darío Soto Abril

The Trust for the Americas

María Liliana Mor

The Trust for the Americas

Strategic Partners