Dear Editor,
I write to propose an innovative and sustainable approach to crime fighting in our country.
It is obvious the crime monster has created a culture of fear in many communities. This culture of fear is not good for the mental, physical, spiritual, social, and financial health of our citizens, and is toxic to the business health of Jamaica. Research shows that living in volatile communities is associated with disruptive and aggressive behaviours, school disengagement, failure, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic stress, aging, substance use, and sexual risk-taking.
I am convinced the security forces are running out of ideas on how to contain crime, while residents of certain communities understand the underworld of crime more than many of our security personnel. We need to tap into the resources of our people. The crime-fighting approach that has been used in Jamaica is a top-down strategy, where the crime strategy comes from the security personnel to the community. It is full time we embrace a more fluid approach to crime fighting, which incorporates top-down and bottom-up approaches.
As a country, we need all hands and heads on deck to fight the crime monster. To facilitate the bottom-up approach, we need to create what I call “The Crime Fighting Strategy Grant Competition”, where people submit a maximum 2,000-word crime-fighting proposal. This competition will select a parish finalist for each parish who will advance to the grand finale. At the parish and national levels, first and second runners-up will be selected. The 14 parish finalists will receive $100,000 each, the first runners-up $50,000, and the second runners-up $25,000. The grand winner will get $800,000, first runner-up $500,000, and second runner-up $250,000. I am calling on the Government to allocate $4 million per year for the next four years for this initiative.
In order to reduce bias and protect the integrity of the selection process, I propose the implementation of a blind peer review process at the parish and national levels.
I am willing to collaborate with the Government to implement “The Crime Fighting Strategy Grant Competition”.
Crime fighting in Jamaica needs a collective approach, and I believe this proposal offers such an approach.
Marlon Robinson, MAMFT, M Div, LMFT-A
CEO, Family On Point, LLC
familyonpoint@gmail.com
I write to propose an innovative and sustainable approach to crime fighting in our country.
It is obvious the crime monster has created a culture of fear in many communities. This culture of fear is not good for the mental, physical, spiritual, social, and financial health of our citizens, and is toxic to the business health of Jamaica. Research shows that living in volatile communities is associated with disruptive and aggressive behaviours, school disengagement, failure, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic stress, aging, substance use, and sexual risk-taking.
I am convinced the security forces are running out of ideas on how to contain crime, while residents of certain communities understand the underworld of crime more than many of our security personnel. We need to tap into the resources of our people. The crime-fighting approach that has been used in Jamaica is a top-down strategy, where the crime strategy comes from the security personnel to the community. It is full time we embrace a more fluid approach to crime fighting, which incorporates top-down and bottom-up approaches.
As a country, we need all hands and heads on deck to fight the crime monster. To facilitate the bottom-up approach, we need to create what I call “The Crime Fighting Strategy Grant Competition”, where people submit a maximum 2,000-word crime-fighting proposal. This competition will select a parish finalist for each parish who will advance to the grand finale. At the parish and national levels, first and second runners-up will be selected. The 14 parish finalists will receive $100,000 each, the first runners-up $50,000, and the second runners-up $25,000. The grand winner will get $800,000, first runner-up $500,000, and second runner-up $250,000. I am calling on the Government to allocate $4 million per year for the next four years for this initiative.
In order to reduce bias and protect the integrity of the selection process, I propose the implementation of a blind peer review process at the parish and national levels.
I am willing to collaborate with the Government to implement “The Crime Fighting Strategy Grant Competition”.
Crime fighting in Jamaica needs a collective approach, and I believe this proposal offers such an approach.
Marlon Robinson, MAMFT, M Div, LMFT-A
CEO, Family On Point, LLC
familyonpoint@gmail.com