CS examining offenders recruitment policy
(CNS): As government continues its battle to cut overheads and reduce numbers, it is currently examining a new policy on the employment of ex-offenders. Despite the need for staff cuts, the government is still one of the best placed organizations to give those convicted of crimes who have served their sentence a chance in an effort to prevent them from returning to a life of crime. It is less costly for the public purse to pay them to work than to keep them in jail, so while the police and government are calling on the private sector to take on ex-cons, government must also find room for those who need help.
The latest scant version of minutes from the deputy governor’s meeting with civil servant heads indicated that the policy was discussed on 12 August, when a few minor changes were recommended before the revised policy was circulated to all chief officers.
Efforts to help young people vulnerable to being sucked into a life crime was also at the top of the agenda for the meeting, when the new chair of the charity Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) and the education ministry’s at-risk coordinator gave a presentation about initiatives targeting troubled and vulnerable students. BBBS was looking for government support in an initiative to have civil servants act as mentors.
Mentoring is a key strategic objective within the country’s national crime reduction strategy and in line with Deputy Governor Franz Manderson’s goal for civil servants to play a greater role in community activities. As a result, chief officers have been asked to endorse the programme and support participation by their staff.
The minutes also revealed that the deputy governor and the chief officers have identified the need for an employee attitude survey among public sector workers to gather key information that could be used to motivate high performance, as part of the ongoing reform of the civil service. Chief officers discussed some preliminary work that has already been undertaken and a sub-committee was expected to meet the following week to collate feedback, consider information requested from POCS and make recommendations on the way forward.
Category: Politics
Anyone can make a mistake, so lets give everyone ONE chance to straighten up. If he commits a second crime, off with his head. I guarantee this will reduce crime!
They need to deal with the criminal element who run government before they try to sort out those already convicted by Government They can sort that out by not covering up and protecting certain individuals who do commit crime and corruption all the time in government. These people constantly get five and six chances whilst they are never fired but moved around or promoted to be a menace to the entire system and the public
A second chance is not a right. It is bloody hard work to win the confidence of people that you let down in the first place. It is not an entitlement and requires genuine repentance and remorse.
Everyone deserves a second chance. The other day I was speaking with my supervisor about this same issue and to my surprise she advised me of her teenage activities in her home country. It was filled with her several arrests for various forms of petty crimes and drug use. I then informed her if she did those acts in Cayman she would never get a job again. She then agreed and stated that her home country which is Cayman's mother country gives several chances to start over. Now knowing this, I wonder how in the world was she ever granted a work permit for a six figure salary position with this background and if she is offered a second why not Caymanians?
So your going to employ these individuals for a second chance. What about all the caymanian folks who are unemployed who have had no chance so far….? Why aren't you actively trying to sort them out with theses jobs?
Very sorry. I did not spell the word psychology correct.
I would like to make a suggestion of which I have thought about for many a year. Most of these offenders are very smart and most of the time out smart the Police. Why not employ them and train them. More or less you would be reversing physicology. After all guys from other places are trained in Cayman. Also we need more Caymanians working in our prison.
Better to have them in the Civil Service than the LA.
This can be a good idea so long as all positions involving money or dealing with the public are off limits.
You automatically assume that everyone that has been convicted is a thief or have socialisation/anger management or other anti-social issues. I would hope it could be done on a case by case basis. Not all people who have been convicted are theives or dangerous. Even those who have been convicted of theft or some other crime considered dangerous, a lot of times these people made a mistake but people like you want to punish them for the rest of their lives and not give them a second chance to prove they have been rehabilitated. The man the other day who was convicted of keeping a gun he found in his possession, when he gets out is he to be also not to be put in situations of cash or dealing with the public?
That is correct. he has shown himself to be inherently untrustworthy. A wise employer would not put him in a position of trust until he has proven himself in a 'less critical' job.
Let's get them all out killing lionfish and iguanas for cheesebugers.
That's a great basis for employing someone- it's cheaper than locking them up. Explains a lot.
Its a start…it needs implementing from about 4 years ago…
Let's get them involved on the time machine project then.
Sure they are….all our garbage pick up people are work permit holders…explain that
What about the victims of the crimes who have suffered one of the following:
Does Government also concern themselves how the victims are going to be integrated back into society or are we only concerned for the criminals?
A lot of those criminals at HMP Northward are repeat offenders and no matter what, if given the opportunity they will strike again. It is not because they don't have work – they just want an easy life an are lazy………..
It's people like you that cause them to continue to reoffend. If not given chance, how the hell are they suppose to change? You are sad and heart less.
I think you are both talking about two different type of criminals.
There are those that he thinks of that makes a joke of the entire process. The one that tells the guard to hold his cell when he is leaving. The same one that is back there next week.
Then there is the one you are talking of. Who has not enjoyed his time in prison and has worked hard to change.
And both type of prisoner exists and people need to realise it.
No just realistic – go and look who the majority of people in Northward are and whether they have been there the first, second or third time. I am tired of society being blamed for criminlas reoffending because they have not been reintegrated into society properly. It is a two way street and unfortunately I have seen too many of them who just didn't want to hold up the end of their deal when it comes to being reintegrated. Too many criminals can't shake off their "friends" that got them into trouble to begin with. So unless you want to rehaul your whole life, just getting a job somewhere isn't going to cut it……….As a victim of crime, I am tired of hearing about what should be done for the criminals – what about the victims of heinouse crimes? Who rehabilitates them to be reintegrated into society?
Yes and what about the other good citizens that are not even given a first chance? How about the rest that do not have a criminal record. everyone has a choice. Get to the back of the line. Poor donkey excuse , trying to blame people for your criminal mentality. Goverment should be the ones to hire them if they want. So Goverment has now decided to look over the issues of repeat offenders, and how they are hired into CS, but I bet you if the private sector was to say something of the sorts it would be all hell breaking loose. Cayman is fast become a crime ridden Island. So much is spent on them after they commit the crimes and you tell me what is being done to the good folks out there making an honest living and living in fear? Go get a job man. Bout you cant work for 8$ an hour. That you caymanian and this your country. One day I want to see the real problem solved. Cayman is small enough to get every one educated. the business will gladly pay for it to happen. This place is run by the 4 year promises.
You are wrong and have my pity.