NCJ Number
77906
Date Published
1980
Length
23 pages
Annotation
The increase in Jamaica's urban crime and violence is documented, and some possible reasons for it are explored.
Abstract
Violent crimes have risen dramatically in Jamaica, to the extent that fear of victimization is altering citizens' behavior. One particular concern has been the use of guns in the commission of crimes. In the mid-1960's, shooting incidents were about 7 per 100,000 population annually. In 1974, shootings with intent to kill increased by 1900 percent, while murders increased almost 400 percent. About 70 percent of the murders occurred in urban Kingston, where 30 percent of Jamaica's population lives. These data prompted the passage of the Gun Court Act in 1974. The act provided that a person charged with a gun crime would be tried within 7 days of arrest, and, if found guilty, be detained indefinitely subject to release decisions made by a review board. The sentence of the gun court, the review board, and certain divisions of the court were declared unconstitutional, however. This has led to the substitution of life imprisonment for indefinite detention. The violent crimes most often involve offenders aged 18 to 25. Violent crime has increased even in the face of improved socioeconomic conditions in urban areas. Rapid social change, which has produced a breakdown of traditional social roles and institutional controls over behavior, coupled with an increase in the percentage of the young adult population prone to crime, are believed to be primary causes of the violent crime increase. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation in institutions, smaller units are being established, where programs of skill training, counseling, and community participation are emphasized. Documentation and evaluation of various programs and changes have been a problem, largely because of the lack of systematic data collection and analysis. Graphic and tabular data on crime rates are provided, along with four notes.