The Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole (CAPP) concluded its second annual conference yesterday, bringing together representatives from 13-member countries at the Financial Centre. The two-day event highlighted the pivotal role of probation and parole in the criminal justice system, fostering connections and collaboration among stakeholders.
Dr. Angela Dixon, President of CAPP, emphasized the necessity of the conference, stating, “We recognize that as a region… we were operating in silos, so we understand the importance of coming together and collaborating.” She added, “We have a lot of similarities and there are… cultural differences, but we want to make sure that we establish tools so that we can standardize the practice in the region, share information, and make our voice stronger as a collective.”
The conference featured a range of presentations, including crime reduction strategies, sexual offender management and Expanding Alternative Sanctions in the Caribbean (Insights and Next Steps from ELPACCTO’s Regional Scan).
CAPP also provided an overview of its progress.
Additionally, said Dixon, “We’re going to have presentations from some of the member countries discussing what sex offending looks like in their particular region and how they are dealing with it— what the numbers look like.”
“We also have a representative who’s going to do a presentation on what parole looks like across the region right now and what kind of steps we’re… looking… forward to,” she noted.
Jaron Harvey, Incoming Chairman of CAPP, highlighted the importance of risk assessments for the Caribbean region.
“We have persons from MHS (Multi-Health Systems) which has risk assessments that a lot of the countries… are using. They are going to be discussing how to develop… relevant risk assessments and how you can actually use some of their tools for those countries who may not be using it,” he explained.
Moreover, he added, “The purpose of the Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole is to gather all of our practitioners… around the region to discuss ideas and strategies as to how we can advance… the profession and to realize how we can come up with innovative strategies to address criminality from a regional perspective.”
He emphasized that probation and parole are the heart of any effective criminal justice system, “and so having all probation and parole officers sit around the table to discuss these ideas and strategies is something that’s phenomenal.”