MURDER IS Jamaica's leading problem. Over 1,500 people have been murdered since the start of the year, the highest number of murders in the nation's history. More than 900 of them were committed
by boys aged 16 and under between 2000 and 2004. In fact, young men between 15 and 24 commit most murders.
REPEAT OFFENDERS
Statistics show that crimes committed by repeat offenders are rising. The Planning Institute of Jamaica reports that the number of recidivists has increased steadily over the last four years, rising by 14.8 per cent in 2004. Recidivists accounted for nearly 30 per cent of new admissions in 2004 or 633 of the 2,160 people admitted to correctional centres for murder. Nearly 100 per cent of the offenders were men and over 25 per cent of them were between the ages of 17 and 25.
Overcrowding of the facilities continues to play a significant part in the problem too. Nearly 4,500 children were housed in juvenile correctional facilities that should only accommodate 2,978 children.
