MacMillan

Local authorities are getting help from the British Government in an attempt to deal with the problem of deportees who struggle to reintegrate into society.

Convicts who have served their prison terms and have been released will also benefit under the three-year programme to be financed by the British Government to the tune of approximately J$345 million.

"The programme will build the capacity of the Ministry of National Security, the Department of Correctional Services and civil society to effectively rehabilitate and reintegrate local offenders and deported persons," National Security Minister, Colonel Trevor MacMillan, told the regular post-Cabinet media briefing held at Jamaica House Wednesday.

Criminal activities

Just under 3,000 persons were deported to the island last year, with a little more than half of those being deported for their involvement in criminal activities.

Senior members of the police force have long blamed deportees for the upsurge of major crimes in Jamaica, although there is no solid data on the number of deportees arrested or convicted over the past three years.

But there is no such grey area about the role of ex-convicts in crime.

"On average, approximately 23 per cent of 1,800 offenders released from correctional facilities annually are convicted for another offence within two years as most do not have access to rehabilitative care," MacMillan said.

Behave themselves

Under the programme, a hostel/-reception centre will be established and deportees will be taken there when they return to the island.

"They will be counselled at that location before they are actually released. They will not be held as prisoners, but we will try to encourage them to behave themselves," the national security minister added.