Crime and Violence in Jamaica: IDB Series on Crime and Violence in the Caribbean

Harriot, Anthony D.; Jones, Marlyn J.

doi:10.18235/0000333

Cited by 22 publications

(27 citation statements)

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“…[23, 27, 63] The way in which neighborhoods are perceived and influence substance use behaviors in Jamaica likely differ from that of more developed western countries, especially considering recent changes (2015) to the country’s national drug act which loosened restrictions on personal use of marijuana [61]. Furthermore, crime remains a main public safety issue for Jamaicans and a significant threat to the country’s human and economic development [64]. Jamaica has homicide rates that are notably higher than both the regional and global averages falling within the top 10% globally with increases since 2015 [65, 66].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neighborhood crime, disorder and substance use in the Caribbean context: Jamaica National Drug Use Prevalence Survey 2016

et al. 2019

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The purpose of the study was to examine the role of objective and subjective measures of neighborhood crime and disorder on substance use among a nationally representative sample of 4525 Jamaicans aged 12–65 years. Log-Poisson models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A test of interaction was used to determine presence of effect modification by sex. Approximately 39% of the study population reported past-month alcohol use; 10% past-month tobacco use; and 15% past-month marijuana use. In fully adjusted models, past-month alcohol and tobacco use were associated with perceived neighborhood disorder (p<0.05). The likelihood of alcohol use was 1.12 (95%CI:1.04, 1.20) times greater among participants who perceived higher neighborhood disorder. The likelihood of tobacco use was 1.22 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.46) times greater among participants who perceived higher neighborhood disorder. A significant test for interaction in adjusted models (P<0.2) suggested that the associations between substance use and perceived neighborhood disorder varied by sex. Examination of stratified models indicated that the role of perceived neighborhood disorder on alcohol and tobacco consumption varied among females, but not males. Females who perceived higher levels of neighborhood disorder had an increased likelihood of past-month alcohol and tobacco use (RRa:1.25 95%CI:1,07, 1.45; RRa:1.73 95%CI: 1.10, 2.67). Objective neighborhood crime measures were not associated with alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana use. The study findings provide evidence for the importance of considering subjective and objective neighborhood measures when examining relations with health outcome and demonstrate that perceptions of context and contextual exposures are not uniform across populations within neighborhoods. Interventions focused on building community trust and social cohesion (e.g. neighborhood community watch groups) and greening of blighted or abandoned spaces may help increase the sense of safety and order, reducing stress and maladaptive coping such as substance use.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neighborhood crime, disorder and substance use in the Caribbean context: Jamaica National Drug Use Prevalence Survey 2016

et al. 2019

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“…A recent IDB Series on Crime and Violence in the Caribbean, a region-wide research project, found that while there are different levels of crime across the Caribbean, overall crime and violence have presented a significant hindrance to development and the social fabric of the region. Jamaica, for instance, is one of the most violent places in the world, with 'homicide rates that are notably higher than both the regional and global averages' [34] (p. ix). In Bahamas, the IDB report [35] finds that 'levels of crime and violence have consistently risen during the past decade .…”

Section: The Historical and Socio-economic Context Of The Caricommentioning

confidence: 99%

Education for Social Transformation (EST) in the Caribbean: A Postcolonial Perspective

Brissett

2018

Education Sciences

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This paper critically examines the possibilities of education for social transformation (EST) in the context of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This is a region with a history of colonialism and embodies some of the central dilemmas of globalization, such as inequality and environmental precarity. Thus, conceptually, EST holds great promise for social justice and environmental sustainability. The paper argues, however, that EST can be relevant to the region only if it takes account of the enduring deep-seated legacy of asymmetries of power, exploitation and inequality in the broader society and within the education system resulting from colonialism and now exacerbated by globalization’s processes. Using postcolonial theory as the analytical frame, the paper highlights these challenges to EST in the context of the Caribbean and also identifies educational principles for EST to be a catalyst for social transformation in the region.

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“…10 Seventy-one percent of rural parents and 55 percent of urban parents reported flogging as the most frequent response to perceived misbehaviour in their children. 11 Even though administrative data on assault and sexual violence are not comparable between countries, data on these crimes are available in several IDB publications (Bailey 2016;Harriott and Jones 2016;Seepersad 2016;Sutton 2016). 12 Accurately determining the cause of death is still a challenge in many countries that may have scarce time and resources to conduct crime scene investigations and autopsies.…”

Section: Intimate Partner and Family-related Homicidementioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring paradise in the Caribbean: combatting violence with numbers

2017

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ative Commons IGO 3.0 Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC-IGO BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/legalcode) and may be reproduced with attribution to the IDB and for any non-commercial purpose.No derivative work is allowed.Any dispute related to the use of the works of the IDB that cannot be settled amicably shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the UNCITRAL rules. The use of the IDB's name for any purpose other than for attribution, and the use of IDB's logo shall be subject to a separate written license agreement between the IDB and the user and is not authorized as part of this CC-IGO license.Note that link provided above includes additional terms and conditions of the license. They lead to injury and the loss of human life, erode confidence in government, reduce the competitiveness of industries and services, negatively alter the investment climate, contribute to emigration, and can lead to the loss of skilled and educated citizens. Consequently, improving citizen security has become a priority of the Inter-American Development Bank in its efforts to support the governments and citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean.While citizen security has become an ever-increasing concern for many Caribbean countries, the magnitude of the problem has not been matched with an equally robust response in terms of research. Cross-national studies on the prevalence, causes, and effects of violence in the region are few. Empirical studies showing which policies have worked to reduce crime in the Caribbean are even scarcer.This volume analyses new data collected in household and business victimization surveys. These surveys allow us to understand crime from a primary source-the victims themselves. As such, this study goes beyond much of the existing literature, which relies primarily on police data. It contributes new information to our understanding of crime patterns, victim profiles, determinants of particular types of crime, and directions for crime reduction in the region.While the crime situation varies among countries, broadly speaking the Caribbean suffers from uniquely high levels of violent crime. After providing an overview of crime in five Caribbean capital cities, this volume addresses several factors associated with violent crime. These include youth, violence against women and children, neighbourhood characteristics, gangs, guns, and the police and criminal justice systems. The cost of this crime and violence to the Caribbean-about 3 percent of GDP-is significant. The study finds that victimization has negative ramifications for businesses, economic growth, tourism arrivals, emigration, and life satisfaction.However, perhaps the most unique aspect of this study is that it has been written with the specific intention of informing policy and programme design. There is much work in the region that is promising and much that is ineffective.This report helps to identify both, and urges that rigorous evaluations of the more promising programmes be conduc...

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Crime and Violence in Jamaica: IDB Series on Crime and Violence in the Caribbean

Cited by 22 publications

References 50 publications

Neighborhood crime, disorder and substance use in the Caribbean context: Jamaica National Drug Use Prevalence Survey 2016

Neighborhood crime, disorder and substance use in the Caribbean context: Jamaica National Drug Use Prevalence Survey 2016

Education for Social Transformation (EST) in the Caribbean: A Postcolonial Perspective

Restoring paradise in the Caribbean: combatting violence with numbers

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