The 2 day event will run from Monday 20th – Tuesday 21st August, 2012 and will be the third annual of such activities. Operation Future has explained that they believe that proper education is key to addressing the issues that communities face regarding crime and violence. This education extends beyond giving children a formal education so they are equipped for the challenges they will face as they enter the world, said the organization.
They add that it includes educating communities and those who work within them about the unique challenges of the criminal justice system and why we must all be involved for the greatest results.
“The issues of youth, crime and violence need more than a simple management approach to be successfully addressed. Crime management means CCTV, larger police forces, more minimum and harsher penalties as deterrence to crime, restrictions on civil rights in a community and expensive investment in more prisons and juvenile incarceration facilities. And, if we are to look to other nations that have invested heavily in crime management it has met with little success, and in many cases have aggravated the situation as resources needed for education and social programs are channelled into costly institutions needed to house the rapidly increasing prison population, “ argues Operation Future.
Operation Future said it believes a holistic approach is necessary to successful address the issues of youth, crime and violence. Crime, particularly violent crime is symptomatic of an unhealthy community, return health to a community and by extension you will see a reduction in crime and particularly violent crime.
However, it is impossible to build a healthy community without involving the community. And, nowhere is this more evident than in the area of the Criminal Justice System.
A criminal justice system is more than police, courts and prison, the community is needed at all levels if the justice system is to contribute to building and maintaining a healthy community.
Operation Future therefore shared that the purpose of this conference is to demonstrate the importance of taking a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to justice.
They said building interdisciplinary partnerships requires drawing from both public and private sector programs that can be developed to reduce crime, violence and recidivism rates. Such partnerships also, reduces the expenses associated with crime management programs allowing public dollars to be put back into positive initiatives in our education and social systems. In addition the facilitators of this conference are all involved in developing and implementing community based programs and will demonstrate how we can develop similar programs here and a comprehensive action plan to reduce crime and violence and build healthier communities.
The conference will be held from 8:30 to 4:30 at the University of Medicine and health Sciences (St. Kitts).