Parchment

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Executive director of the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF), Donna Parchment, says it is important for restorative justice programmes to be installed in Jamaican prisons to rehabilitate inmates, especially those who are serving shorter sentences.

"It's critical to enhance their reentry into society because on average people are spending five years in the correctional service," Ms. Parchment said. "We are aware of communities where when some persons come from jail, some residents say the area gets hot, so it's very important to have a service that helps in their improvement."

She was speaking yesterday at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, where the second day of the Restorative Justice Forum took place.

More training

Ms. Parchment also called for more restorative justice training in penal facilities throughout the Caribbean. She said the DRF staged a training seminar for Caribbean correctional officers in Jamaica five years ago, but noted that it was not enough.

"One workshop for three or four officers from every country does not a programme make," she said. "Training is a critical component ... Training so everybody understands the system, so that the programmes are properly designed and the procedures are documented."

Ms. Parchment was one of several speakers who addressed the role restorative justice has in societies like Jamaica where crime is rampant.

The conference opened Wednesday at the Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips and Major Richard Reese, commissioner of corrections, were the main speakers.

The forum ends today with the unveiling of a prison community radio station at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, downtown Kingston.