Custody of young offenders reviewed

“Strengthening Alternatives to Custody in Belize” was the topic of a one-day conference held today at the Fiesta Inn. The seminar, which is hosted by the Ministry of Human Development, Women and Youth and supported by V.S.O. – Belize, looked at the progress of the present alternatives to custody and in what ways they can be restructured to address the growing problem of repeat young offenders and their rehabilitation. According to Evan Dakers, the ministry’s social planner, they want to see whether the existing programs like the youth hostel, the Youth Enhancement Academy and a community service program have been effective.

Evan Dakers, Social Planner, Ministry of Human Development

“I would say we are somewhat in the middle; I would say about five. Definitely our probation program has to be strengthened and the other program I mentioned, the Community Service Order Program, that program has significant potential. I think we need to come together not only my ministry but other agencies. Particularly the judiciary, the court and we have pulled in now the J.P.s because I think you know that the J.P.s have recently formed themselves into an association and the wider community. So I think we need to pull ourselves together.”

Fiona Hancock, V.S.O., Ministry of Human Development

“This isn’t going to be just a talk workshop, we will be developing these strategies. Particularly we are hoping that out of this we will be able to establish a successful community service scheme in this country. We know that there is one that has been experimented with within the past, we believe it needs a strong administrative structure and that is one of the goals that we hope will come out of today.”

At the end of the conference the recommendations brought forward will be compiled and put into a plan of action which is then expected to be submitted to government.