The
Ministry of National Security exercises overall responsibility for
the security and defence of Jamaica. The security of Jamaica is
provided by the national forces – the Jamaica Defence Force
(JDF) offers military service, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force
(JCF), which has responsibility for the maintenance of law and order.
The punishment and rehabilitation of offenders is carried out by
the Correctional Services.
Jamaica Defence Force
The
Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises an infantry Regiment and Reserve
Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering
Unit.
The
main functions of the Force relate to:
1) Defence of the nation in the event of aggression
2) Assistance to the police and other agencies in the event of civil
disturbances or major disasters
3) Surveillance of Jamaica’s territorial waters in support
of fisheries protection, anti-smuggling and narcotics control measures
The
JDF also provides ceremonial military parades in celebration of
certain events of national importance.
The
Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard is responsible for the surveillance
and security of Jamaica’s coastal waters, which involves the
apprehension of illegal immigrants, criminals, bandits and other
undesirables entering Jamaica’s territorial waters, and handing
them over to the police. It also undertakes search and rescue operations
and assists in narcotic control, and the protection of fisheries.
Jamaica Constabulary Force
The
mission of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and its auxiliaries
is to serve, protect and reassure the people of Jamaica with courtesy,
integrity and proper respect for all. This is done through the delivery
of impartial and professional services, aimed at the maintenance
of law and order, protection of life and property, prevention and
detection of crime, and preservation of peace.
This Department holds its authority under the Jamaica Constabulary
Force Act, which sets out the responsibilities of the Police Department
as those of:
i.
Maintenance of law and order
ii. Prevention and detection of crime
iii. Protection of life
iv. Investigation of alleged crimes
v. Enforcement of all criminal laws as well as immigration and alien
control
Jamaica
Police Academy administers the recruitment and training of entrants
to the Force. A wing of the academy caters to the Island Special
Constabulary and District Constabulary Forces. A Commandant at the
level of Superintendent of Police, heads the academy.
The maintenance of law and order is principal reason for the existence
of the Police Department, which comprises the JCF and the Island
Special Constabulary Force (ISCF).
Policing and crime fighting operations are carried out by special
units under the direction of area commanders or other designated
officers. These units include:
* Homicide
Squad
* Fingerprint Bureau
* Criminal Intelligence Division
* Organised Crime Unit and Vice Unit
* Fraud Squad
* Flying Squad
* Fatal Shooting Unit
* Five Area Crime Officers
* National Firearm and Drug Intelligence Branch
* Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit
* Photographic Unit
* Crime Statistics Unit
Control and Investigation of Drug Trafficking
This
segment of law enforcement deals with the investigations of narcotic
trafficking, its cultivation, and all related offences including
money laundering and asset forfeiture. These operations take place
islandwide, and gives special attention to the seaports, airports,
aerodromes and illegal airstrips. The aims are the:
(a)
Eradication of ganja production
(b) Interdiction of the trafficking and abuse of ganja, cocaine
and other hard drugs
(c) Reduction of public demand for drugs by organising lectures,
demonstrations and other public awareness programmes
(d) Seizure of assets or proceeds derived from illegal narcotic
activities
Island Special Constabulary Force
The
Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) is the first reserve to
the regular police force in all facets of policing, including the
detection and investigation of major crimes and breaches of the
Road Traffic Act.
Approximately 58 percent of the ISCF is deployed in Kinston and
St. Andrew.
Marine Operations
Marine
operations are another aspect of the Jamaica’s security forces.
Activities in this include regular patrols within the nineteen-kilometre
limit of the island with a view to ensuring:
(a)
Harbour protection and security
(b) Narcotics and drug enforcement
(c) Prevention of anti-smuggling operations such as the illegal
entry of firearms, ammunition and explosives, through the ports
(d) Search and rescue operations
(e) Prevention of stowaways
(f) Protection of the fisheries and wild life under the Fishing
Industry and Wild Life Acts
Legal Medicine
Legal
Medicine is concerned with pathological and histological examinations
and investigations conducted in all sudden and unexpected deaths
throughout the island. This involves post mortem procedures to determine
the cause of death, coroner’s inquest and court appearances
in respect of all criminal cases. It is also required to train police
personnel in Medico-Legal Investigations, and to provide advice
to lawyers, doctors and members of the public in respect of Medico-Legal
problems.
The
Department is required to work alongside the Forensic Laboratory
in respect of certain investigations requiring scientific evidence.
A consultant pathologist heads the Unit.
Other Activities
The
activity encompasses the intelligence capabilities of the Criminal
Investigations Branch and the National Firearms and Drug Intelligence
Unit. This Units deals with information gathering, storage and dissemination
of intelligence relating to firearms and drug offences. It also
supervises the INTERPOL Unit, which is responsible for tracking
wanted and missing persons, and monitoring deportees and extradition
proceedings.
Community Relations and Welfare
This
activity is responsible for creating, managing and maintaining the
community relations programmes of the Force. These programmes are
aimed at fostering improved communication and mutual understanding
between the police and the community. It is also responsible for
all welfare facilities for members of the force, the police band
and the Island Constabulary Force as well as all sports programmes
for the Forces.
Department of Correctional Services
The
Department of Correctional Services is one of the three arms of
the Criminal Justice System. It was established in 1975 by merging
the prisons department, probation services and approved schools
to administer the correctional programmes of the Government.
The mission of the Department is to foster rehabilitation, whilst
maintaining a united and highly motivated staff, characterised by
integrity, commitment and professionalism. Consideration is given
to the protection of the society in the case of offenders who receive
custodial sentences. Programmes of rehabilitation are employed with
a view to assist inmates to live productive lives upon release.
The Department is comprised of a head office in Kingston, seven
adult correctional centres, five juvenile correctional centres (formerly
approved schools) and 17 correctional services, probation, aftercare,
parole and prevention offices islandwide. Correctional functions
are legal duties imposed by the courts.
Juvenile institutions are correctional centres for the custody and
rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, as ordered by the courts.
Individuals become wards of the state after all efforts at the community
level have failed in changing their behavioral pattern and the offenders
appear to need a more structured environment to assist in effecting
the desired changes.
The programme is designed to:
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