ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE TO SERVE, PROTECT AND REASSURE

A PRIMARY DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMME Presented By: SGT. SEILEST BRADSHAW Juvenile Liaison Officer

BACKGROUND  THE R.B.P.F. ESTABLISHED THE J.L.S IN 1983  CONSULTATION WITH SOCIAL AGENCIES.  BASED ON STATISTICAL DATA SHOWING ALARMING INCREASES IN CRIMES COMMITTED BY JUVENILES.  PERSUASIONAL FACT: MANY OF THE ADULTS INVOLVED IN CRIME HAD A HISTORY OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT DURING ADOLESCENCE.

STRUCTURE JUVENILE LIAISON COMMITTEE JUVENILE LIAISON OFFICE

J. L. S. COMMITTEE  CHAIRMAN {Commissioner or Nominee}  LIAISON OFFICERS  WELFARE DEPARTMENT  CHILD CARE BOARD  PROBATION DEPARTMENT  MINISTRY OF EDUCATION  ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE  CLERGY

JUVENILE LIAISON OFFICE  Head of Department  (Sergeant S. Bradshaw)  Three Constables  Two males  One female

OBJECTIVES  To reduce juvenile delinquency.  To divert juvenile offenders from the rigorous and traumatic experiences of the Criminal Justice System.  To counsel juveniles, as well as their parents, who are considered to be at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity.  To provide voluntary supervision of Juveniles.

IDENTIFICATION OF JUVENILE WHO CAN REFER ?  POLICE OFFICERS  BUSINESS COMMUNITY  SOCIAL AGENCIES  SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS  PARENTS  CONCERNED CITIZENS

WHO IS REFERRED  (Juveniles years)  Juveniles who exhibit behavioural problem  Juveniles who have committed minor offences

CRITERIA:  Provided that the aggrieved party has no objections and is in agreement.  Where it is a first offence  The Juvenile in the presence of the parent admits his/her wrongdoing and is willing to be a part of the programme.  Parents agree to have child/ward admitted

ENGAGING THE CLIENT  On entering the scheme a juvenile is counselled and supervised for a period of six months.  Counselling sessions are between thirty forty-five minutes a week for the first four weeks. Assessment/ Plan Intervention

ENGAGEMENT CONT’D  If the juvenile shows signs of improvement, visits may be adjusted to every two or three weeks as determined by the counsellor.  Home and school visits forms part of the ongoing assessment.  Home and school visits forms part of the ongoing assessment.  At the end of the six months the J.L.S Management Committee makes a determination whether to administer the Police Caution or extend the counselling period

POLICE CAUTION  Where a juvenile commits an offence subject to trial by a Magistrate.  The police may take the decision to caution the offender rather than prosecute.  First Offence, Circumstances

SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME  TRACER STUDY 1998  RANDOM SAMPLE { }  20% OF PARTICIPANTS OF EACH YEAR  Criminal Records Office (C.R.O.) of the R.B.P.F. was used for verification of subsequent convictions.

Study PARTICIPANTS     Total 79  Males 51  Females 28  56% referred for criminal offences  16% referred for status offences  28% for behavioural problems

ADULT CONVICTION # of Convictions # of Persons Percentage % % % 12 or more % TOTAL %

ELAPSED TIME  5 Clients 1-3 yrs  7 Clients 4-7 yrs  3Clients 8-11 yrs To February 1997  %  %  %

IMPLICATIONS  Majority of offenders committed they first crime four (4) years after release from the programme.  Trends indicate that the further removed the clients are from the programme the more likely they are to commit criminal acts.  In Britain (Home Office Circular 14/1994) there was a 33% rate of subsequent convictions for similar Schemes.

AUXILLARY STAFF - Volunteers SUPPORT GROUP - Parents PROGRAMMES CHRISTMASCHRISTMAS SCHOOL OUTREACHSCHOOL OUTREACH SUMMERSUMMER INDEPENDENCEINDEPENDENCE GROWTH ORIENTEDGROWTH ORIENTED COORDINATED ACTIVITIES

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Motto: LISTENING, UNDERSTANDING AND SHARING