CITIZENS' INITIATIVE ORGANIZATION

RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEAL WITH CRIME

1.      All citizens should be registered at birth and assigned a unique number. This number would entitle all citizens to a citizen's card at age 6 which is renewable every 12 years. Information about each citizen would then be stored in a computerized system. The information in this database would enable the security forces to identify citizens and also to keep tract of criminals. This citizen's card would also be used for voting purposes. This would mean that all citizens would be entitled to vote as long as they have been registered at birth or have become citizens of Jamaica subsequently.

2.      There should be no interference with the police force in the carrying out of its legal responsibilities. Interference in the daily operations of the police force by anyone should be treated as a very serious criminal offense.

3.      Members of the Police Services Commission not to be appointed entirely by politicians and appointments to the Commission should be for a fixed term. The Bar Association, the Police Federations, and the Public Services Commission should have representatives on the Police Services Commission.

4.      Proposal for the appointment of Commissioner of Police should be published prior to his confirmation. Persons having objections to the appointment should be allowed to put this in writing and to make submissions to the Police Services Commission about their objections.

5.       Without further delay, reintroduce hanging.

6.      Persons assisting individuals in committing criminal acts and/or protecting them from the law, to be treated in the same manner as the persons committing the offense.

7.      Lashes to be made mandatory for some criminal offenses. This would apply in cases such as rape where the person is a repeat offender or where the identity of the suspect is scientifically confirmed.

8.      It should be considered an offense for politicians to provide handouts from the government coffers to party adherents or to use government funds for vote buying.

9.      Prisoners should be made to work and pay for their upkeep while in prison.

10.A compulsory savings scheme should be established for all prisoners.

11.Income from the judicial system should go towards improving the system with special emphasis being put on the physical infrastructure.

12.In certain cases where the life of witnesses might be in danger, such a witness should only be known and seen by the prosecution and the judge only.

13.Government should establish a victim support scheme that is administrated by a foundation set up by government.

14.Petty offenders should not share the same space in prison with hard core criminals.

15.Persons committing petty offenses should be made to do community work.

16.Jamaica should have a centrally organized transportation system for the urban areas, which would go a far way in easing the tension and violence.

17.The laws relating to corruption in high places in both the public and the private sector should be reviewed and strengthened.

18.Directors and board members of companies, who are found guilty of certain acts, should not be allowed to sit on boards of public and private companies in the future.

19.Processing of criminal and civil matters in the courts should be speeded up.

20.Measures must be taken to prevent students from carrying dangerous weapons to school.

21.The laws relating to carrying dangerous weapons in public places to be enforced in all instances as a matter of urgency.

22.Parents to be liable for criminal acts carried out by their children.

23.Firm action to be taken against parents/guardians who are not carrying out their parental responsibilities.

24.Measures to be taken to cause individuals to limit the number of children per family.

25.Immediate action must be taken to create an economic environment that encourages growth in the economy.

26.Government should give incentives for the employment of students during the vacation periods.

27.Measures to be taken by private and public sector to create employment opportunities for persons between the ages of 18 years and 30 years.

28.Members of the police force to be given training in interpersonal skills.

29.When there are demonstrations or any such acts involving a large number of persons, a very senior member of the force must be present to lead the operations of the police and/or the army. In very serious situations, the Commissioner of Police must be present.

30.Senior officers responsible for specific geographical areas, to make themselves available to the press and to citizens in order to keep the citizens and the press up to date on the activities of the force in dealing with crime.

31.Review and implement the Code of Conduct for police officers. (For example such code could recommend disciplinary action for any officer seen drinking in a bar while on duty, and also any officer who ignores any wrong doing by a citizen.)

32.Appoint more district constables. Citizens' Associations and/or Neighbourhood Watch groups should recommend these District Constables. Where there are no such groups then any broad base citizen's organization in a specific area could be asked to make recommendations. These District Constable should be referred to as Community Police.

33.Punishment for certain offences committed should increase in the offender commits another offense subsequently. For example if someone is charged and found guilty of molesting a child and is given 7 years. If that person is found guilty of another offense of a serious nature, then that person should be given a life sentence.

34.Government should set up community courts to be presided over by Justice of the Peace assisted by Jurors. These courts would deal with matters such as petty larceny, domestic disputes of a non-violent nature and littering

35.Citizens in neighbourhood watch groups and citizens' associations should assist in the evaluation of police officers who are being considered for promotions.

36.Where it can be proven that any Member of Parliament supports the operation of any gang, then that Member of Parliament should be deprived of his seat and should not be allowed to be a Member of Parliament in the future.

37.There should be frequent inspection of all schools to ensure that our students are being properly educated in a disciplined environment.

38.Special shelters should be built to house street people in the various parishes with specific emphasis on the urban areas.

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