Holistic approach being taken to inmate rehabilitation, says DCS rep

Rehabilitation is more than just a programme in the island’s correctional facilities, it is a transformative journey designed to equip inmates with the tools to more easily reintegrate into society successfully.

 The holistic approach is being championed by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) as it seeks to shift its focus from predominantly the incarceration side of the judicial process.

Rehabilitation Manager at Tamarind Farm Correctional Centre, Theressa Shand, explained the change.

 “We seek to address the biopsychosocial and spiritual aspect of clients in our care, providing them with the tools and skills they need to reintegrate into society as productive and empowered individuals,” Shand told JIS News in an interview.

Tamarind Farm is one of the seven adult correctional facilities locally that are under the remit of the DCS.

Shand explained that the rehabilitation process spans multiple facets of personal development.

“We focus on the holistic care of our clients. In order to help them fully reintegrate into society, we expose them to a variety of areas, including academics, vocational skills, spirituality, and sports,” she noted.

Adult inmates have the option to attend school and participate in vocational programmes, which offer valuable skills that can help them secure employment after their release. For juvenile offenders, school participation is mandatory.

Sports and recreational activities also play an important role, helping the inmates develop discipline, teamwork and physical fitness.

One of the most significant recent developments at the DCS is the introduction of case managers for all adult inmates, a practice that was previously limited to juvenile institutions. These professionals are viewed as being crucial in helping inmates to create and execute personalised rehabilitation plans that address their specific needs and challenges.

“We’ve recently built out the case management system for adults. All our adult facilities now have case managers. The moment after 30 days when an inmate is in our care, we have what is called a rehabilitation plan for them,” said Shand.

She explained that the arrangement with the adults is quite similar to what obtains for the juveniles.

“All the juvenile institutions have case managers; we have counselling on a regular basis for them. The moment they enter our system, we create a rehabilitation plan which is executed by the case managers. We work with our psychologists… and probation after-care officers. Where intervention is needed by the psychologist or even our doctor, we also will do referrals,” Said Shand.

A major focus of the rehabilitation programme is education. Over the years, the DCS has seen a marked improvement in academic achievements, with inmates now taking and passing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

“In the past year, 45 inmates sat the CSEC exams at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Facility, and 32 of them were successful,” Shand reported.

“We had six distinctions, and five inmates received grade ones, which is a huge accomplishment,” she added.

CSEC lessons in subjects such as English, mathematics, principles of business, principles of accounts, history and social studies are offered to the inmates, and in addition, they can pursue CAPE exams in mathematics and economics.

Vocational training includes a wide range of practical skills, such as barbering, welding, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, painting and cosmetology. The skills not only improve inmates’ chances of finding employment upon release, but also contribute to the daily functioning of the correctional facilities, with inmates frequently involved in maintenance projects.

Spiritual care is another essential element of the rehabilitation process. The chaplaincy plays an important role in providing emotional and spiritual support to inmates, helping them to address their deeper personal struggles and find meaning and direction in their lives.

This aspect of rehabilitation is particularly important for inmates who may be dealing with guilt, anger or trauma related to their past actions.

“We focus on the biopsychosocial and spiritual needs of each person. The spiritual side is critical, and the chaplaincy helps to provide guidance and support, not just for the inmates, but also for the officers who work with them,” Shand further told JIS News.