CITIZEN SECURITY AND JUSTICE PROGRAMME (CSJP) FAQs
What is the Citizen Security and Justice Programme?
The Ministry of Finance of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (Loan BH-L1033) to implement a Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP). The initiative is facilitated by the Ministry of National Security and is supported by several government agencies and civic organizations.
The overall objectives of this program are to: (i) improve behaviours for non-violent conflict resolution in New Providence; (ii) increase employability and employment of the vulnerable youth population in New Providence; (iii) strengthen institutional capabilities of justice services; and (iv) reduce the recidivism rate among persons within the adult and juvenile corrections systems.
The CSJP’s goals are achieved through four distinct Components: 1. Community Development; 2. Job Corps; 3. Strengthening Justice; and 4. Prison Reform.
What is Component 1: Community Development?
Component 1 focuses on improving behaviours for non-violent conflict resolution by engaging vulnerable youth, ages 15-29, through a variety of activities. These include training to address norms that promote the acceptance of violence, school-based violence prevention activities and youth violence interruption. Young people learn how to improve social skills, anger management, conflict resolution skills and how to foster caring, supportive relationships. [Learn more about our programme here]
What is Component 2: Job Corps?
Component 2 focuses on the CSJP’s employability training programme which provides youth with the necessary skills and tools to find a job and keep it. This Component targets the development of soft skills (like responsibility, degree of commitment, teamwork-building, persistence, and self-control), training through community development projects and education through the development of literacy and numeracy skills. [Learn more about our programme here]
What is Component 3: Strengthening Justice?
Component 3 seeks to address institutional shortcomings of the current justice administration system. Through CSJP, law enforcement and judicial stakeholders—the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Office of the Judiciary (the Supreme and Magistrates’ Courts), the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services—form an integrated, technological system that promises to improve the justice administration landscape. [Learn more about our programme here]
What is Component 4: Corrections Reform?
This Component seeks to improve the effectiveness of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) and Ministry of Social Services with a goal to reduce adult and juvenile offender recidivism. Activities to reduce recidivism rates include the implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation model, including vocational training and educational programmes, a case management and monitoring system to identify risks and needs, provide treatment and manage cases and the expansion of reintegration programmes. [Learn more about our programme here]
Who coordinates the various Components?
CSJP Component leaders are: Dr Rochelle Lightbourn (Component 1); Ms Arvis Mortimer (Component 2); Mrs Rose Green-Thompson (Component 3) and Dr Valerie Knowles (Component 4).
Which government and civic organizations partner with CSJP?
CSJP sponsoring agencies include: The Office of the Attorney General; Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture; Bahamas Judiciary; Ministry of Social Services; Department of Rehabilitative/Welfare Services; Department of Labour; Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and Ministry of Education.
How do I contact CSJP?
CSJP’s office is located within the Ministry of National Security at Charlotte House,
Shirley & Charlotte Streets.
Telephone: 242.604.1016/242.502.3300.
Email: csjp@bahamas.gov.bs [Contact us here]