Bahamas ranks third for imprisonment regionally, 93% males at the corrections facility

#Bahamas, October 10, 2017 – Nassau – The Bahamas, in 2016, ranked third in the region in incarceration rate; for every 100,000 people in the country, 439 are imprisoned.    The statistic led to several changes at the Prison and has caused the new FNM Administration to seek true data on what works to prevent crime and what causes crime to be committed in the first place.   That big question, ‘Why are Bahamians committing crime?’ was essentially the crux of the matter being explored when the University of The Bahamas held a symposium called, Our Prisoners: A Symposium.  Minister of National Security, Marvin Dames in speaking to those gathered at the first of its kind discussion explained that he reached out to UB to explore ways the institution could assist in finding evidenced-based strategies to combat crime.

UB is not only willing to do that said the Minister, but to also evaluate anti-crime programs to determine what impact they could have, if any, on crime and public safety.    The Minister said the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services has been transitioning from a punitive facility to a corrections facility. ….. “During this process, the enactment of new legislation to govern the service and changing the name of the institution was achieved,” said Minister Dames, who is an ex Police, but still the process falls short.

There remains no ‘correctional strategy’ to benefit the staff or the offenders.    In 2016, 2,528 were the number of inmates at the prison in Fox Hill and 93% of those incarcerated are males.

“Particularly, young males between the ages of 18-25 who represent the largest age group at 41%.    These trends suggest that we must engage dialogue relative to Corrections, alternatives to incarceration and their role in the Criminal Justice System of The Bahamas.”

The Minister expounded on plans to reduce the rate of recidivism or returning to prison and one suggestion was a program to re-integrate those who have served their times, by teaching them how to live a crime free lifestyle.    Information in the study to be produced by UB will be useful in modernizing and strengthening corrections outcomes and there was full assurance, by the Minister, that the Government is a willing and committed partner to chart a course based on the findings.

#MagneticMediaNews