The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in Jamaica is a department under the Ministry of National Security. As of April 11th, 2019, retired Lieutenant Colonel Gary Rowe is the Commissioner of Corrections, Mr Rowe’s role is to facilitates the correctional programmes on behalf of the Government of Jamaica and reports to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security.
Before Jamaica became independent, the Prisons, the Probation Services, and the Approved Schools functioned separately. This led to an inefficient system with inconsistencies and duplication. The three bodies were then joined to form the DCS in 1975 as an agency of the Ministry of National Security. The merger created new directions and opportunities for the DCS to provide rehabilitation and care.
The mission of the DCS is to “contribute to the safety and protection of our society by keeping offenders secure and facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration as law-abiding citizens while developing a professional and committed staff”.
The DCS is informed by a correctional process, which provides a relevant, structured, therapeutic environment to facilitate the empowerment and rehabilitation of those being cared for by the state.
The three major arms of the Department of Correctional Services are Rehabilitation, Custodial Services (Adults and Juveniles), Human Resource Management and Community Service. The department is governed by The Corrections Act.pdf
The Custodial Services of the Department has responsibility for the management and administration of seven (7) adult and four (4) juvenile institutions.
Receive wards from the Juvenile and Family Courts. These might be 12 years old and are not kept in the institution beyond 18 years old. The school aims at providing the wards with a rounded development and re-fitting them into society. There are four Juvenile Correctional Centres and one Juvenile Remand Centre:
Correctional Officers are trained to do the following:
Training of Correctional officers is done exclusive onsite 24/7 for 6 Weeks at the Carl Rattray Staff College. The college is named after the late Honourable Mr. Justice Carl Rattray, OJ, QC – then Minister of Justice – proposed the purchase of the Golf Beach Hotel property in Runaway Bay, St. Ann in 1978 and the vision for a world-class training school began.
The property was acquired and fittingly renamed the Carl Rattray Staff College for Human Resource Development in his honor. The vision for the college is to partner with the community by providing continuing education in areas that will enhance both personal and community development. The college is, therefore, poised to achieve this and to carry out its role in working toward Vision 2030.
The current Principal of the college as of 2019 is Ms. Christall Byfield supported by Superintendent Leslie Campbell; Overseer, Noel Beckford; Overseer, Selvin Jones and Superintendent Albert D. Brown. This is complemented by 15 to 30 support staff.
The Carl Rattray Staff College which is nestled in the foothills of Cardiff Hall features the following