Y.E.A. programs prepare inmates for release
It used to be that young and first time criminal offenders were treated the same as more hardened criminals: sent to Hattieville to serve their time. But in 1997 a separate facility for youths was established in Ladyville where inmates between the ages of fifteen and twenty seven years old could get a second chance. But how do Y.E.A. officials expect these youths, most of whom came from broken homes and whose own families couldn’t get them on the right track, to turn their lives around? By getting back to basics: learning the value of hard work and the need to respect others, and themselves. I was invited to the Youth Enhancement Academy last week to talk to the inmates about their efforts to change their lives for the better.
Y.E.A. training requires the youths, who are up from the crack of dawn, to take classes in basic educational skills, go out in the fields to learn how to plant agricultural crops or engage in other productive activities. Derek Palmar, a volunteer attached to the academy, says the young men have been doing a number of jobs for preschools and the government.
Derek Palmar, V.S.O., Y.E.A.
“We have a project that we are just setting up to produce toys, educational equipment for a preschool. At the moment supplies of these items are very short in Belize and we think that we can start a long-term production of these items.
I think most of the youths they are quite excited of the fact that they can learn a skill. It helps to develop their self discipline and gives them a better future.”
In the art class we found some other youths busy working on a project for the San Pedro Museum. Inmates also provide some of their own food by planting fruits and vegetables.
Tito Rosado, Inmate, Y.E.A.
“From since I arrive here, we have planted corn, okro, tomato, coco, sweet pepper, burn pepper, the cassava and other veggies like carrots, cucumber and cabbage so the academy can have their own vegetables to put in the pot.”
Y.E.A. inmates are also generating revenue by washing crates for Bowen and Bowen and Pebco Belize. The work provides a small amount of money which is put back into the academy. But as we were taken on a tour of the various programs at the institution we also found out that despite all the organized activities underway, life on the compound can be a frustrating experience. Two youths, who were recently transferred from Hattieville, got into a wrestling match. The fight was broken up and both inmates were lectured.
Vernon Bennett, Discipline Officer, Y.E.A.
“Basically we have inmates here sometime they get frustrated and it’s a situation where I find out because a group of men they are in a confine space, they are restricted. Sometimes, you know it is a way of letting off.”
However, Bennett says the new arrivals, who are counseled by other inmates, eventually learn to deal with their problems and quickly blend in with the program.
Wesley Emmanuel, Inmate, Y.E.A.
“Well, there is a lot of times when things get rough but it has to be you, like myself, to overcome that, you know. Sometimes you are stressed out, you are worried about home, about people; when you are going to get out of this place, if you are going to stay, whatever. But it is left to you to think and get over that.”
Emerson Talbert, Inmate, Y.E.A.
“Well basically what we are trying to do is help the youths to develop a self esteem in themselves that they keep their personal hygiene well maintained and also their surrounds, their living quarters as well. As the saying goes, “cleanliness is next to godliness”. We try to clean out and keep the place clean always, you know.”
Most of the Y.E.A. youths either come from broken homes, or were abandoned and left to grow up on their own. Talbert says because most of them have not received that primary parental care it is important for society to support the young men once they have been rehabilitated and released. Deputy Director of Y.E.A. Martin Garcia agrees.
Martin Garcia, Deputy Director, Y.E.A.
“I would like to urge the business community to give the youths a second chance. They are here, we are trying our best with them, to rehabilitate them that when they get out into society not to do the same things they commit themselves with but to be productive.”
Nineteen year old Owene Parham was sentenced in 1993 for highway robbery. Today he is not only looking forward to going home in September but is grateful to the academy for his new outlook on life.
Owene Parham, Y.E.A. Inmate
“It help me because it made me change a lot from how I used to think.”
Q: “Why, how did you use to think?”
Owene Parham
“I never have nothing or so, cause when I used to be out on the road, I just used to go do anything out of the way but since I have been here, I realize what I have done already and I see my mistakes and I don’t really want to go back in the same thinking.”
Emmerson Talbert
“We need to give the youths them a second chance because everyone’s entitled to a mistake or sometimes we even repeat ourselves. What happens if you just turn away and leave everybody on their own, nothing will happen and you can’t really make that change cause you will feel left out, that means well boy I really no good so nobody will really look out for me, you know. That support is needed.”
One of the inmates featured in the story, Tito Rosado, has recently been released from Y.E.A. Since the suicide of Jeffrey Bradley, who was found inside Y.E.A.’s holding cell on January 6th, inmates are no longer being punished this way and a reward program has been put in place to teach the youths about respect and discipline. The program includes a contest to see which dorm is kept cleanest each week. Winners are treated to a barbecue that weekend. The one hundred and thirteen inmates at Y.E.A. are serving sentences for offenses ranging from manslaughter to burglary and drug possession.
