Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Anti-gang Bill Sent August 28, 2013

8/18/2019 Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Anti-gang Bill Sent August 28, 2013

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BILL: Criminal Justice (Suppression of CriminalOrganisations)

Submission before the Joint Select Committee

Submitted to: Mrs Heather Cooe! Cler to the Houses of

"arliament

By: Yvonne McCalla Sobers, human rights

advocate


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ContentsAttention: Joint Select Committee Members............................................................................2

SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................3

SUBMISSION................................................................................................................ 7

Backro!n".................................................................................................................7

#ans........................................................................................................................ 8

De$elo%ment o ans................................................................................................8

Deinin #ans.........................................................................................................

#an Recr!itment......................................................................................................

#an c!lt!re in Jamaica............................................................................................ !"

're$io!s attem%ts to "isr!%t an" s!%%ress ans...............................................................!3

Im%act to "ate o anti(crime la)s an" anti(an !nits........................................................!#

Anti(an la)s in ot*er co!ntries.................................................................................!7

Common b!t !n*el%!l belies abo!t criminolo+............................................................!8

Social ,!stice met*o"s...............................................................................................!

Im%act o t*e econom+ on criminal acti$it+....................................................................2"

A%%arent reasons "ri$in "eman" or t*is Bill.................................................................22

T*e Bill....................................................................................................................23

Deinition o terms...................................................................................................23

#ro!n"s or arrest....................................................................................................2#

J!"e(alone trials in camera.......................................................................................2#

-iolation o international con$entions...........................................................................2$

%i&ely e'ect o( this Bill.......................................................................................27

A''ENDI............................................................................................................... 28

!


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Attention: Joint Select Committee Members

Minister o National Sec!rit+/ 'eter B!ntin

Minister o Yo!t* an" C!lt!re/ 0isa 1anna

Minister o State in t*e Ministr+ o To!rism an" Entertainment/ Damian Cra)or"O%%osition S%okes%erson on J!stice/ Delro+ C*!ck

O%%osition S%okes%erson on Yo!t*/ S%orts/ an" C!lt!re/ Oli$ia 2Babs+3 #rane

Member o 'arliament/ Ric*ar" 'arc*ment

Member o 'arliament/ Jol+an Sil$era

Minister o J!stice/ Senator Mark #ol"in

Senator Norman #rant

Senator 4ens)ort* Skeer+

Senator So%*ia 5raser BinnsSenator Art*!r 4illiams

Senator T*omas Ta$ares(5inson

2


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SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS

Met*o"s to control ans *a$e incl!"e" %!niti$e meas!res to a""ress s+m%toms/ an" social inter$ention

meas!res to a""ress root ca!ses o criminal acti$it+6 4*at seems nee"e" are sol!tions t*at relate

%roblems i"entiie" t*ro!* researc* on ans an" t*ro!* st!"ies o Jamaica3s !ni7!e an" com%le8 an

c!lt!re6 Most o all/ a balance nee"s to be o!n" bet)een la) enorcement an" social inter$ention6

T*e Criminal J!stice 9S!%%ression o Criminal Oranisations Bill alls into t*e %!niti$e cateor+6 T*is

Bill is t*e latest o attem%ts/ b+ $ario!s a"ministrations/ to !se "raconian meas!res to %!nis* t*ose

"eeme" to be in$ol$e" in oranise" crime6 T*e ma,or "ierence is t*at t*e anti(an leislation seeks to

%enalise !ilt b+ association rat*er t*an !ilt or committin criminal acti$ities6 As a res!lt/ t*is

leislation/ is likel+ to inrine !n"amental ri*ts an" ree"oms s!c* as relate to %ri$ac+/ ree"om o

association/ ree"om o mo$ement/ an" ree"om o s%eec*6 It also )ill res!lt in:

• J!sti+in illeal "etentions 9ater t*e act b+ %ro$i"in ro!n"s or c*ares t*at "o not nee"

%roo o criminal be*a$io!r;

• Criminalisin inner(cit+ +o!t*s )*o *a$e committe" no criminal act or )*ic* t*e+ co!l" be

c*are"; an"

• Stimati


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an increase rat*er t*an a "ecline in an $iolence/ e$en )*en crime o$erall *as "ecline"6 In ot*er

co!ntries/ t*e constit!tionalit+ o t*e leislation *as been s!ccess!ll+ c*allene"6 It is note)ort*+ t*at

t*is "rat "i" not seem to take into consi"eration a Unite" Nations st!"+ t*at linke" c*anes in economic

actors/ s!c* as t*e c!rrent International Monetar+ 5!n" 9IM5 loan areement/ to c*anes in criminal

acti$it+6

A Bill base" on ina"e7!ate researc*/ mistaken "ianosis/ an" incorrect %rescri%tion can onl+ )orsen t*e

sec!rit+ crisis t*at 'arliamentarians )o!l" *o%e to resol$e b+ %assin t*is Bill6

Members o t*is Joint Select Committee ma+ t*ereore be )ell(a"$ise" to consi"er t*e ollo)in

7!estions:

?6 E8actl+ )*at %roblem is t*is anti(an leislation inten"e" to sol$e

6 4*+ *a$e ans increase" in si6 1o) can terms s!c* as criminal oranisationF an" anF be "eine" so t*at t*e %olice an" t*e

%!blic are in no "o!bt abo!t t*ose to )*om t*e leislation a%%lies

@6 4*at e8actl+ can Jamaica learn rom e8%eriences o ot*er co!ntries )it* anti(an leislation

H6 4*ic* ro!%s )o!l" *a$e t*e most to ain or lose rom anti(an leislation 1o) )ill t*e

$oices o t*ose stake*ol"ers be *ear" an" taken into consi"eration

=6 4*at inter$entions are nee"e" to enable at(risk +o!t* to "irect t*eir eneries to sociall+

res%onsible acti$ities t*at contrib!te to national "e$elo%ment

It is s!este" t*at action to re"!ce t*e si


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A! Rel+ on cre"ible researc* into si


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O! A$oi" sit!ations in )*ic* t*ose "is%ose" to committin crimes lie lo) !ntil t*e+ i!re o!t *o)

to et aro!n" t*e la)s/ an" t*en re$ert to e$en more $iolent crime6

#air trial and rehabilitation

(! Enable increase" im%ro$ement in ,!stice s+stems/ )it* t*e aim o re"!cin backlo an" b!il"in

%!blic coni"ence in air trials or all/ es%eciall+ t*ose )*o are %oor/ !ne"!cate"/ %atois(s%eakin/

an" !nable to aor" co!nsel6

)! Enable marke" im%ro$ement in correctional s+stems to ens!re *!mane treatment o %risoners/

%ro$i"e o%%ort!nities or re*abilitation/ an" to eliminate t*e stima an" "iscrimination t*at makes

e8(inmates eas+ recr!itin tarets or ans6

R! Reconise t*at remo$in an lea"ers/ b+ "eat* or incarceration/ can lea$e $ac!!ms or +o!ner

9an" sometimes more "es%erate an" *eartless %la+ers to take o$er an lea"ers*i%6

Social inter%ention and cons*ltation

S6 Take ste%s to stabili


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SU"MISSION

"ac,ro*nd

T*is %a%er is inten"e" to "ra) attention to as%ects o t*is Bill t*at ma+ create %roblems or t*e ,!stice an"

sec!rit+ s+stems )it*o!t ac*ie$in t*e %!r%oses state" in t*e %reamble to t*e Bill:

?6 'ro$i"e or "isr!%tion an" s!%%ression o criminal oranisations66 A""ress t*e "aner criminal oranisations %ose to %!blic or"er/ %!blic saet+/ an" economic

stabilit+66 A""ress ail!re o e8istin la)s to a"e7!atel+ "isr!%t/ s!%%ress/ or ot*er)ise eecti$el+ "eal

)it* oranise" crime an" criminal oranisations6G6 Taret lea"ers o criminal oranisations/ an" criminalise manaement o an" relate" con"!ct in

relation to in connection )it* enter%rises t*at are in$ol$e" in criminal acti$it+6>6 Criminalise %artici%ation in an" %romotion o t*e acti$ities o criminal oranisations/ i$en t*e

%resence o criminal oranisations in man+ comm!nities t*at is %er$asi$e an" *arm!l to t*e

)ell(bein o t*ose comm!nities6-! Restore a sense o sec!rit+ in t*e Jamaican societ+ an" strent*en t*e ca%acit+ o la)

enorcement aencies to "eal )it* crime eecti$el+6

7


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ans

De%elo$ment o. ans

Socioloist 5re"eric T*ras*er ? )as a social reormer )*o belie$e" t*at ans )ere %art o t*e

%s+c*oloical an" ro!% %rocesses o a"olescence in %oor comm!nities! 1e linke" ormation o

ans to social con"itions in inner(cit+ comm!nities )it* eat!res s!c* as "eterioratin *o!sin

an" %oor em%lo+ment %ros%ects6 In *is $ie)/ t*ese con"itions res!lte" in nei*bo!r*oo"s )*ere

social instit!tions an" social control mec*anisms )ere )eak an" ineecti$e6 1e ar!e" t*at t*e

lack o social controlle" +o!t*s to in" ot*er means o establis*in social or"er; t*e+ "i" t*is b+

ormin ans6

Ot*er researc*ers s!c* as Albert Co*en 9?K>> *a$e %!t or)ar" t*e t*eor+ t*at ans arise rom

a s!bc!lt!re create" b+ lo)er socio(economic +o!t*s )*o are res%on"in to t*eir e8cl!sion rom

mainstream mi""le(class c!lt!re6 Since t*ese +o!t*s realise t*e+ are !nlikel+ to attain mi""le(

class stat!s/ t*e+ create a an c!lt!re t*at %ro$i"es t*em )it* an alternati$e so!rce o stat!s6

4alter Miller 9?K>= t*eorise" t*at ans an" criminal acti$it+ are be*a$io!ral maniestations o

a lo)er(class c!lt!re t*at $al!es to!*ness/ smartness/ e8citement/ ate/ an" a!tonom+6 Ric*ar"

Clo)ar" an" 0lo+" O*lin 9?K@L %ro%ose" t*at ans orm beca!se o t*e !ne$en "istrib!tion o

la)!l an" !nla)!l means o attainin oals6 #ans )ere %ercei$e" as bein able to re"!ce

eelins o r!stration an" %o)erlessness b+ %ro$i"in +o!t*s )it* access to !nla)!l means o

eelin s!ccess!l6

Since t*e ?K=Ls/ ans an" an acti$it+ *a$e c*ane"6 1ae"orn 9?K==/ ?KK=/ 1oro)it<

9?K=/ an" 4ilson 9?K=H/ ?KK@ note" t*at ans )ere ten"in to become economic entities in

illeitimate as )ell as leitimate econom+/ an" co!l" no loner be anal+se" solel+ on criminal

be*a$io!r6

!5re"eric T*ras*er *as a sociologist at the +ni$ersit+ o C*icao/ an" )as one o t*e most

%rominent members o t*e C*icao Sc*ool o Sociolo+ in t*e ?KLs6 T*ras*ers e%ic )ork: The Gang: a

study of 1313 gangs in Chicago *as been rear"e" as still be t*e best st!"+ o ans e$er )ritten6

8

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R20http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R22http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R22http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R22http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R63http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R64http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R64http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R20http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R22http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R22http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R63http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705161/#R64


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De.inin ans

T*ere *a$e been man+ "ierent "einitions o ans6 Some sc*olars *a$e seen ans as

acilitatin criminal acti$ities/ an" ot*ers *a$e seen ans as innatel+ oriente" to)ar"

criminalit+6 Deinitions t*at stress crime an" $iolence o$er ro!% %rocess treat ans as

%rimaril+ t*e res%onsibilit+ o la) enorcement6 Deinitions t*at em%*asise t*e sociolo+ o

ro!% %rocess treat ans as %rimaril+ t*e res%onsibilit+ o social aencies6 In Jamaica/ a balance

ma+ nee" to be o!n" bet)een la) enorcement 9or an members )*o *a$e broken t*e la)

an" social inter$ention 9or !nattac*e" an" at(risk +o!t*s )*o *a$e committe" no criminal

oence6

Sc*olars *a$e *a" "iic!lt+ in eneratin consistent in"ins an" eneralisations abo!t ans/

beca!se t*e lack o consens!s abo!t t*e "einin eat!res o a an *as ma"e it "iic!lt to

enerate consistent in"ins an" enerali


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• BlinF: t*e+ ma+ )ant t*e latest in )*ate$er are consi"ere" most as*ionable

accessories 9$e*icles/ smart%*ones/ *ot irlrien"s;

• Access to "r!s an" alco*ol; an"

• Monetar+ o%%ort!nities t*ro!* illeal acti$ities6

Yo!t*s )ill t*ereore belie$e t*at t*e an )ill %ro$i"e t*em )it* t*ins t*e+ co!l" not

ot*er)ise obtain6 Most o t*e +o!t* are likel+ to come rom amilies !nable to %ro$i"e or t*eir

nee"s/ an" ans can com%ensate or )*at is lackin in *ome lie6 5!rt*er/ t*e State ma+

%ercei$e tro!ble" +o!t*s as bein sec!rit+ %roblems rat*er t*an as *a$in !nresol$e" %roblems

t*at lea" t*em to t!rn to ans6

an c*lt*re in Jamaica

It is c*allenin to in" reliable an" com%re*ensi$e st!"ies o ans in Jamaica6 Researc*ers are likel+ to

ace "iic!lties in collectin "ata beca!se t*e to%ic is so $er+ sensiti$e6 5or e8am%le/ ant*ro%oloist Dr

1erbert #a+le *as sai" t*at in researc*in social $iolence *e *as been s*ot at b+ %olice/ *a" !ns %!lle"

on *im b+ ansters an" been ma"e to kiss a concrete %a$ement6F

5!rt*er/ researc*ers )ill nee" to "eine anF so as to ca%t!re all t*e n!ances o t*e ormal an" inormal

net)orks an" oranisations o ro!%s in Jamaica6 One a$ailable st!"+

b+ #laister 0eslie %ro$i"e" m!c*o t*e "ata set o!t belo)6

#laister 0eslie reerre" to a ?KK= st!"+/ commissione" b+ t*e o$ernment/ t*at cateorise" Jamaican

ans b+ le$els o oranisation 9Moncriee/ ?KK=6 T*is st!"+ "istin!is*e" bet)een:

?6 Criminal oranisations t*at are *ea$il+ in$ol$e" in international !n(r!nnin an" "r!s(

traickin an" *a$e an entre%rene!rial intent6 T*ese ans ten" to *a$e a"!lt rat*er t*an +o!t*

members*i%6

2 Herbert Gayle: Facing down danger to study violence %!blis*e" in t*e Jamaica Obser$er No$ember=/ L?L *tt%:)))6,amaicaobser$er6commobilecareerT*e(ant*ro%oloist=?=@?KK

3 Confronting the Don: The Political Econoy of Gang !iolence in "aaica )ritten b+ #laister 0eslie an" %!blis*e" b+ t*e Small Arms S!r$e+ in S)it


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6 'ihl+ oranised ans )it* i"entiiable lea"ers*i%/ a ormal *ierarc*+/ assine" roles/ s%eciic

territor+/ acti$ities t*at increase co*esi$eness/ an" ormali6 6Corner cre1s t*at are relati$el+ inormal ans an" ma+ not be connecte" to %oliticall+

moti$ate" $iolence/ Corner cre)s ma+ *a$e +o!t* an" c*il"ren in$ol$e" in acti$ities/ an" ma+

e8ist in comm!nities "ominate" b+ area ans6 Corner cre)s are likel+ to i"enti+ )it* an"

"een" t*e %art+ "ominant in t*eir comm!nities6 Some ma+ be enae" in criminal acti$ities/ b!t

most beneit rom %olitical %atronae in t*e orm o ,obs an" *o!sin6@6 Area ans t*at "ominate entire comm!nities an" ma+ be )ell roote" in %olitical %atronae an"

%olitical $iolence

H6 Yo*th ans )it* members bet)een t*e aes o ? an" ?>/ concerne" mainl+ abo!t t!r an"res%ect6 Social )orkers *a$e "escribe" t*em as amenable to social inter$ention6 6

Man)arin 9LLH classiie" Jamaican ans b+ eneration:

?6 5irst(eneration: tra"itional street ans )it* a t!r orientation6 T*e+ are loosel+ str!ct!re"/ an"

t*eir enaement in criminal acti$it+ is likel+ to be o%%ort!nistic an" localise"66 Secon"(eneration: more entre%rene!rial an" oc!se" on !n(r!nnin an" "r!s(traickin6 T*e+

ma+ "ominate $!lnerable comm!nities to im%ro$e t*eir market s*are an" re$en!es66 T*ir"(eneration: transnational an" )ill control !no$erne" or %oorl+(o$erne" s%aces6

Secon" an" t*ir" eneration ans )ill "ominate comm!nities not ,!st b+ !sin orce/ b!t b+ in$estin in

social beneits t*at com%ensate or t*e nelect b+ t*e Jamaican State6 Some *a$e *istoricall+ been kno)n

to *a$e stron ties to t*e t)o ma,or %olitical %arties an" %la+ a bi role "!rin elections an" t*e

cam%ains )*ic* %rece"e t*em6

In t*e ?K@Ls an" ?KHLs/ bot* ma,or %olitical %arties P t*e 'eo%les National 'art+ 9'N' an" t*e Jamaica

0abo!r 'art+ 9J0' ( orme" arrison constit!encies6 It )as allee" t*at %oliticall+(ailiate" ans !se"

t*eir )ea%ons/ in t*eir arrison comm!nities/ to coerce %olitical lo+alt+; enorce %olitical bo!n"aries; an"

%re$ent inc!rsions b+ com%etin %olitical interests6 O!tsi"e o t*eir arrison comm!nities/ t*ese ans

re%orte"l+ !se" met*o"s rom coercion to terror to e8%an" t!r an" enorce %art+ lo+alt+6

0ike ans else)*ere/ Jamaican ans *a$e also become b!siness entities6 T*e+ inance t*emsel$es )it*

%roits ma"e rom e8tortion/ !n(r!nnin/ an" "r!s or *!man traickin6 T*eir )ealt* %ro$i"es t*e

!!


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means to bribe t*e sec!rit+ orces an" ot*er aents o t*e state/ to ser$e as s!rroates or %olitical %arties

in t*e role o beneactors to comm!nities/ an" also to enae in leal b!siness enter%rises )*ile

la!n"erin mone+G6

Jamaican ans %ose t*reats to t*e co!ntr+3s internal stabilit+ an" e8ternal re%!tation6 5or e8am%le/ an

%resence ca!ses comm!nit+ resi"ents to be intimi"ate" into s!%%ortin ans an" coll!"in )it* criminal

acti$it+6 In a""ition/ resi"ents risk "eat* i t*e+ "e+ ans/ coo%erate )it* %olice in$estiations/ or testi+

at trials o an members6 Con$ersel+/ resi"ents become "e%en"ent on ans or inancial s!%%ort or

eneral s!bsistence/ or !neral e8%enses/ an" or c*il"ren3s !niorms/ sc*ool ees/ an" l!nc* mone+6

0ocal b!sinesses e8%erience t*et/ %a+ an ta8esF or %rotection; man+ relocate or close t*eir

o%erations/ to t*e "etriment o t*e comm!nit+6

A an c!lt!re also aects t*e et*ics o t*e societ+6 'ersons ma+ come to belie$e t*at t*e means 9s!c* as

t*et/ killin/ or e8tortion ,!stiies t*e en"6 Data s*o) t*at +o!t* are inl!ence" b+ anstaF st+les an"

absence o morals6 Most criticall+/ st!"ents 9rom *i* sc*ools to basic sc*ools/ re%orte"l+ orm ans

t*at mimic t*e comm!nit+ ans6 In a""ition/ resi"ents ma+ acce%t ans as a necessar+ e$il )*en t*e+

are "e$oi" o an+ ot*er means o inancial s!%%ort6

T*e Jamaican an c!lt!re is t*ereore com%le8 an" )it*o!t %arallel else)*ere6 At t*e lo)est le$el are

%oor/ barel+ oranise" a"olescent bo+s )it*o!t interest in %roit or %o)er b!t intent on "een"in t*eir

comm!nities6 At t*e ot*er en" are t*e criminal oranisations an" *i*l+ oranise" ans )it* lon(

establis*e" ties to Jamaica3s %oliticians an" )it* t*e reso!rces to absorb smaller ans6 T*eir )ealt* an"

%!rc*asin %o)er allo) t*em to li$e in e8cl!si$e nei*bo!r*oo"s an" ain a meas!re o social

acce%tabilit+6

An+ attem%t b+ t*e State to control ans m!st be base" on !ll a%%reciation o t*e !ni7!e eat!res o

ans in t*e local conte8t6

(re%io*s attem$ts to disr*$t and s*$$ress ans

Jamaican o$ernments *a$e so!*t to "ismantle ans t*ro!* crime control meas!res 9leislation an"

ormation o s%ecial %olice !nits or social ,!stice 9oten %romise" b!t !ne$enl+ im%lemente" i at all6

Crime control strateies em%*asi


14/32

acti$it+6 Social inter$entions *a$e been %!t or)ar" as a means o a""ressin t*e root ca!ses o criminal

acti$it+6

'ast met*o"s o combatin an acti$it+ *a$e incl!"e" attem%ts to>:

• Den+ access to !ns an" b!llets6• Den+ access to inancial reso!rces an" t*e %rocee"s o crime6

• Den+ access to ci$il an" %olitical s!%%ort b+ re"!cin corr!%tion in t*e %!blic an" %ri$ate sectors6

• Name an" s*ame s!s%ecte" an members to ero"e t*eir s!%%ort an" leitimac+ in comm!nities6

• Disr!%t enter%rise crimes s!c* as "r! "ealin/ e8tortion/ an" car t*ets6

• Utilise electronic s!r$eillance/ %lea(barainin/ )itness %rotection/ ast trials/ an" man"ator+

sentencin6

• A%%l+ militar+ combat strateies to la) enorcement eorts in or"er to o$er)*elm criminals )it*

resilient orce 9as in t*e L?L Ti$oli #ar"ens o%eration6

Punitive legislation

T*e an %roblem *as )orsene" in GL +ears o increasinl+ "raconian la)s s!c* as:

• Gun Court Act (1974). T*e #!n Co!rt )as inten"e" to "eter t*ose committin !n crimes b+

ra%i" in$estiation/ s)it in camera trial/ an" man"ator+ lie sentences6 T*e Act )as amen"e" in

?K=6

• Suppression of Crimes Act (1974). T*is Act eecti$el+ s!s%en"e" or !n"ermine" some *!man

ri*ts o Jamaican citi


15/32

• Si Anti*crime Acts 9L?L6 T*ese Acts essentiall+ transerre" "iscretion rom ,!"es to t*e

%olice )it* res%ect to "e%ri$in citiLB an" >L5 o t*e Constab!lar+ 5orce Act so %olice co!l" "etain

ci$ilians or H *o!rs 9!% rom G *o!rs )it*o!t c*arin t*em;6

6 An Act to !rt*er amen" t*e 5irearms Act/ to %ro$i"e or a minim!m sentence

o ?> +ears or certain con$ictions;

6 An Act to amen" t*e 'arole Act to allo) or %ersons sentence" to ?> +ears to

lie or s%eciie" irearms oences to be "enie" %arole beore com%letin ?L +ears

sentence;

G6 An Act to amen" t*e Oences Aainst t*e 'erson Act to %ro$i"e or a

minim!m c!sto"ial sentence o ?> +ears or %ersons con$icte" in t*e Circ!it

Co!rt o s*ootin or )o!n"in;

>6 An Act to make interim %ro$ision/ in relation to t*e rant o bail in s%eciie"

circ!mstances/ or acc!se" %ersons to be "etaine" or !% to @L "a+s on certain

c*ares; an"

@6 An Act seekin to amen" t*e Bail Act to re7!ire t*e acc!se" to satis+ t*e co!rt

t*at bail s*o!l" be rante" an" conerrin on t*e Director o '!blic 'rosec!tions

9D'' t*e ri*t o a%%eal )*ere bail is rante" b+ t*e co!rt6

• +inancial ,nvestigations -ivision Act 9L?L6 T*is Act %ro$i"e" or t*e establis*ment o a

"e%artment o o$ernment to be kno)n as t*e 5inancial In$estiations Di$ision or t*e

in$estiation o inancial crimes an" or connecte" matters6• Procee!s of Crime Act an! $egulations 9%asse" LLH an" amen"e" L?6 T*is Act allo)e" t*e

o$ernment to sei


16/32

Some o t*ese Acts arose rom e8ternal %ress!re rat*er t*an internal "eman"6 5or e8am%le/ Acts

relate" to mone+(la!n"erin/ terrorism/ an" corr!%tion )ere "rate" an" %asse" in or"er to 7!ali+ or

inancial s!%%ort an" meet stan"ar"s set b+ t*e US State De%artment@6

Aggressive policing

Since abo!t LLL/ man+ Jamaica Constab!lar+ 5orce 9JC5 !nits *a$e been orme" to combat ans:

• O%eration Intre%i" 9mi" ?KKK )as t*e ?t* %olice anti(crime !nit orme" since ?KH@6

• S%ecial Anti(Crime Task 5orce 9late ?KKK re%lace" ACID6

• Crime Manaement Unit 9LLL )as set !% to taret "ons an" "eal )it* e8tortion/ car(,ackins/

!ns an" "e%ortees )*o )ere in$ol$e" in crime6 T*e !nit )as "isban"e" in LLG6

• Ma,or In$estiations Task 5orce 9LL )as set !% to in$estiate !n(relate" crimes in inston

an" St6 An"re)6 It also collaborates )it* o%erational arms s!c* as t*e Mobile Reser$e6

• O%eration inis* 9LLG )as man"ate" to o ater criminals an" criminal ans committin

crimes/ an" con"!cte" %robes t*at res!lte" in t*e arrest an" con$iction o re%!te" criminal "ons/

incl!"in Donal" Qekes '*i%%s o Matt*e)s 0ane an" Joel An"em o t*e #i"eon 4arriors6

O%eration inis* )as 7!ietl+ "isban"e" bet)een LL= an" L?6

• Ma,or Oranise" Crime an" Anti(Corr!%tion Task 5orce 9L? tarets *i*(le$el in"i$i"!als

s!s%ecte" o in$ol$ement in mone+ la!n"erin/ corr!%t acti$ities an" ot*er serio!s crimes

Im$act to date o. anti2crime la1s and anti2an *nits

#!n Co!rt an" S!%%ression o Crimes Acts )ere %asse" in ?KHG )*en t*e m!r"er rate )as ,!st o$er LL

9abo!t = %er ?LL/LLL6 5ort+ +ears later/ )it* t*e #!n Co!rt still in %lace/ t)o "eca"es o t*e S!%%ression

o Crimes Acts/ inn!merable crime(i*tin JC5 !nits/ t*e m!r"er rate reac*e" a recor" *i*:

a%%roac*in /LLL 9abo!t @G %er ?LL/LLL6 5e) co!ntries in t*e )orl"/ e$en in times o )ar/ *a$e *a" a

*i*er m!r"er rate6 In a""ition/ t*ere are on(oin alleations o %olice killins o !narme" ci$ilians6

T*e rate o %olice killins o ci$ilians in LLH )as ?L6 %er ?LL/LLL/ "o!ble t*e LLG rate6 T*e a$erae

or t*e %ast "eca"e *as been )ell o$er LL ci$ilians kille" b+ t*e %olice %er +ear6

$ $%13 &nternational 'arcotics Control (trategy )e*ort +&'C(),--!olue &&: .oney /aundering and FinancialCries Country Database %!blis*e" b+ t*e US De%artment oState*tt%:)))6state6o$,inlrlsnrcr%tL?"atabase???=6*tm

!#


17/32

0a)s t*at s!%%ort aressi$e %olicin can %romote inrinement o ri*ts6 5or e8am%le/ t*e %ractice o

"etainin irst 9on s!s%icion an" t*en in$estiatin 9to see i t*ere is reason or s!s%icion *as become a

ro!tine %olicin %ractice t*at $iolates %res!m%tion o innocence6 A ormer Minister o J!stice/ attorne+(at(

la) Delro+ C*!ck/ sai" t*at t*e %olice )ere actin illeall+ KL %er cent o t*e time )*en t*e+ arbitraril+

"etain inner(cit+ +o!n men on s!s%icion o criminalit+H6 1o)e$er/ a la) t*at %enalises +o!t* or )*om

t*e+ allee"l+ kno) can ,!sti+ illeal "etention in *in"si*t6

T*ere is no e$i"ence t*at la)s sacriicin ci$il liberties *a$e increase" %!blic sec!rit+ or %!blic tr!st in

t*e sec!rit+ orces6 5or e8am%le/ no e$al!ation seems to *a$e been "one on t*e im%act o t*e Si8 Anti(

crime Acts o L?L6 Ot*er e$ents o L?L P t*e inc!rsion into Ti$oli #ar"ens an" t*e e8tra"ition o

C*risto%*er D!"!sF Coke ( )ere rear"e" as mainl+ res%onsible or t*e L?L(L?? "ecline in m!r"ers

b+ ?> %er cent6 1o)e$er/ b+ L?/ t*e m!r"er rate )as risin aain6

It is note)ort*+ t*at/ on J!ne ?>/ L??/ t*e S!%reme Co!rt o!n" one o t*e Si8 Crime Acts P

amen"ments to t*e Bail Act P to be !nconstit!tional6 5!rt*er/ it co!l" be ar!e" t*at one oreseeable

res!lt o t*ese Acts P o$ercro)"in in ,ails P "i" in"ee" occ!r6 In L??/ t*e Ci$ilian o$ersi*t A!t*orit+

re$eale" t*at it note" t*at %olice lock!%s )ere "anero!sl+ o$ercro)"e"=6 A JC5 s%okes%erson

ackno)le"e" t*at t*e n!mber o %ersons *el" in %olice lock!%s *a" increase" b+ KLL since t*e LLH(

LL= re%ortin %erio"6

T*ere are abo!t LL ans o%eratin in Jamaica to"a+/ !% rom an estimate" > in ?KKG an" => in LLG6

Des%ite "raconian met*o"s to contain t*em/ ans seem more *ea$il+ arme" an" more "eiant t*an e$er6

In a""ition/ ans *a$e ro)n in si/ L??*tt%:,amaica(leaner6comleanerL??LK>ne)sne)s?6*tml

8 "ails aed - Police Civilian 4versight 5uthority warns Gov6t about overcrowding *roble *laguing loc2-u*s'!blis*e" in t*e Jamaica #leaner J!ne @/ L??*tt%:,amaica(leaner6comleanerL??L@@lea"lea"6*tml

!$


18/32

!7


19/32

Anti2an la1s in other co*ntries

T*ere are no a$ailable s!ccess stories in co!ntries t*at *a$e a"o%te" anti(an leislation 9see A%%en"i86

A common concern is t*e constit!tionalit+ o anti(an la)s/ an" t*e "iic!lt+ o %rosec!tin %ersons

base" on "iic!lties in "einin anF an" an memberF to t*e satisaction o t*e co!rts6 5or e8am%le/

Trini"a" an" Tobao arreste" *!n"re"s o %ersons !n"er its L? anti(an leislation/ an" t*en )as

!nable to ollo) t*ro!* )it* %rosec!tion beca!se o "iic!lties in con$ictin %ersons or )*om t*e+

associate )it* rat*er t*an criminal oences t*e+ *a$e committe"6

T*e USA/ )it* a L(+ear *istor+ o anti(an la)s in Caliornia ollo)e" b+ abo!t L ot*er states/ *as

seen a rise in an $iolence an" members*i% "es%ite a nation)i"e "ecline in crime6 A J!stice 'olice

Instit!te st!"+ o ans in ?H USA ,!ris"ictionsK o$er t*e %ast t)o "eca"es +iel"e" e) e8am%les o

s!ccess 9enerall+ s*ort(li$e" an" man+ o ail!re6 T*e %roblems *i*li*te" incl!"e":

?6 0ack o corres%on"ence bet)een t*e %roblem 9!s!all+ let*alserio!s $iolence an" t*e la)

enorcement res%onse t*at tarets lo)(le$el an" non($iolent misbe*a$ior66 Resistance or inca%acit+ on t*e %art o ke+ aenc+ %ersonnel to collaboratin an" im%lementin

t*e strate+ as "esine"66 E$i"ence t*at t*e inter$ention *a" no eect or a neati$e eect on crime an" $iolence6G6 A ten"enc+ or an+ re"!ctions in crime or $iolence to e$a%orate 7!ickl+/ oten beore t*e en" o

t*e inter$ention %erio"6>6 'oorl+ "esine" e$al!ations t*at make it im%ossible to "ra) an+ concl!sions abo!t t*e eect o

an inter$ention6@6 5ail!re o re%lication eorts to ac*ie$e res!lts com%arable to t*ose o %ilot %rorams6H6 Se$ere %o)er an" reso!rces imbalances bet)een la) enorcement an" comm!nit+ %artners t*at

*am%er t*e im%lementation o social inter$ention initiati$es or balance"F an control6 6

Commissioner O)en Ellinton/ in s!%%ortin anti(an leislation/ sai" t*at Jamaica nee"e" to brin its

leislati$e rame)ork in line )it* ot*er co!ntries t*at )ere conrontin similar %roblems ?L6F It )o!l" be

instr!cti$e i Commissioner Ellinton )ere to %ro"!ce researc* "ata to s*o) s!ccess o anti(an la)s in

Getting /ess for .ore: The Failed /egacy of Gang Enforceent %!blis*e" b+ J!stice'olic+ Instit!te*tt%:)))6,!stice%olic+6orimaes!%loa"LH(LHC*H#an4ars#C('S(AC(JJ6%"

!" Ellington wants new law to deal blow to gangs0 organised crime %!blis*e" in t*e Jamaica #leaner 5ebr!ar+ =/L?*tt%:,amaica(leaner6comleanerL?LL=lea"lea"=6*tml

!8


20/32


21/32

Sc*olars s!c* as 'roessor Ant*on+ 1arriott at t*e Uni$ersit+ o t*e 4est In"ies conten" t*at t*e s*eer

"i$ersit+ o Jamaican ans )arrants a more so%*isticate" a%%roac*?F6 In"ee"/ a close ins%ection o

tra"itional a%%roac*es to ans 9"raconian la) an" militarise" %olicin re$eals t*at )*ile t*e+ ma+

s!ccess!ll+ ill %risons )it* +o!n men/ t*e+ "o little to "eter criminal $iolence6

Social 3*stice methods

Social ,!stice met*o"s o a""ressin ans an" an members are base" on belies t*at:

• Crime an" criminalit+ are associate" )it* social an" economic s+stems t*at r!strate an" alienate

t*ose most at risk/ an" %er%et!ate in,!stice or t*e %oor6

•

#an members*i% attracts +o!t*s )*o lack social/ economic/ an" e"!cational o%%ort!nities/ *a$eeas+ a$ailabilit+ o irearms an" see %roo o im%!nit+ or committin crime beca!se o %olicin

seems to rel+ on orce rat*er t*an in$estiati$e ca%acit+6

• '!niti$e leislation an" aressi$e %olicin ten" to create a %ool o rea"+ recr!its or ans6

• Eorts to %re$ent or sol$e crime re7!ire socio(economic c*ane6

• T*e State nee"s to %a+ attention to a""ressin root ca!ses an" re(or"erin societ+ so all *a$e a

stake in national "e$elo%ment6

• -iolence re"!ction )ill %ro$i"e %ositi$e social o!tcomes6

• 5ail!re to a""ress root ca!ses )ill res!lt in ail!re o %!niti$e leislation an" aressi$e %olicin6

• Risk actors s!c* as %o$ert+/ ine7!alit+/ an" !nem%lo+ment re7!ire %rimar+ attention/ es%eciall+

)it* res%ect to t*e national b!"et6

T*ere *a$e been man+ social inter $entions in Jamaica/ some b+ t*e State an" some as a res!lt o

%artners*i%s bet)een t*e State an" ci$il societ+6 Incl!"e" are inter$entions rom:

?6 Non(o$ernment oranisations/ an+ o )*om str!le to s!r$i$e in to"a+3s econom+66 'ri$ate sector o!n"ations t*at ma+ *a$e limite" reac*66 T*e 'eace Manaement Initiati$e 9'MI/ establis*e" LL/ is t*e onl+ State(inance" initiati$e

t*at interacts "irectl+ )it* ans6 T*e )ork o 'MI is c!rrentl+ limite" b+ !n"in constraints6G6 T*e Comm!nit+ Sec!rit+ Initiati$e 9CSI establis*e" LL> )as "esine" as a State mec*anism

or re(intro"!cin ser$ices into $olatile comm!nities ater t*e %olice *a" remo$e" t*e to%

lea"ers*i% o a an6>6 T*e Citi


22/32

T*ese %rorammes all aim at im%ro$in social an" economic con"itions in "e%resse" comm!nities6 Onl+

t*e 'MI "irectl+ tarets comm!nit+ $iolence6

T*ere are also international aencies/ s!c* as T*e E!ro%ean Commission 9EC/ t*e US Aenc+ or

International De$elo%ment 9USAID/ t*e Cana"ian International De$elo%ment Aenc+/ an" D5ID t*at

%ro$i"e "onations or Jamaican entities enae" in im%lementin %rorammes to a""ress an $iolence6

T*e JC5 *as la!nc*e" an" re(la!nc*e" a n!mber o comm!nit+(%olicin initiati$es in t*e %ast t)o

"eca"es6 1o)e$er/ comm!nit+ %olicin is in s*ar% contrast to t*e tra"itional %aramilitar+ an" reacti$e

st+le o %olicin t*at is t*e JC53s "ea!lt %osition6 Researc*er Dr 1erbert #a+le state"/ base" on *is L??

st!"+?G:

Even though the "CF has sought since 1778 to ove away fro reactive0 *arailitary res*onses

to crie and disorder and ebrace counity-based *olicing and intelligence-led *olicing

strategies and tactics0 there has not been enough of a culture shift either within or outside of the

Force to reduce the de*endence on deadly force9

As a res!lt o reliance on t*e %aramilitar+ a%%roac* to %olicin/ t*ere are no lon(term meas!res in %lace

to brin toet*er %olice an" comm!nities in in"in sol!tions to crime an" en"in tolerance

oracce%tance oinabilit+ to "isclose inormation abo!t criminal acti$it+6

Im$act o. the econom+ on criminal acti%it+

A Unite" Nations st!"+?> o crisisF co!ntries/ incl!"in Jamaica/ concl!"e" t*at:

?6 C*anes in economic actors )ere associate" )it* c*anes in crime/6 T*ese c*anes le" to i"entiiable crime 2%eaks3 "!rin t*e time o crisis66 -iolent %ro%ert+ crime t+%es s!c* as robber+ a%%eare" most aecte" "!rin times o crisis/ )it*

!% to t)o(ol" increases in some conte8ts "!rin a %erio" o economic stress6G6 In some conte8ts/ increases in *omici"e an" motor $e*icle t*et )ere also obser$e"6

!) *tt%:)))6,amaicaobser$er6comne)sCiti


23/32

T*ese in"ins )ere sai" to be consistent )it* criminal moti$ation t*eor+/ )*ic* s!ests t*at economic

stress ma+ increase t*e incenti$e or in"i$i"!als to enae in illicit be*a$io!rs6F

In Ma+ L?/ t*e International Monetar+ 5!n" 9IM5 a%%ro$e" Jamaicas a%%lication or a o!r(+ear

e8ten"e" !n" acilit+6 Re%a+ment o t*is US billion loan )ill re7!ire c!ts in e8%en"it!re6 As a res!lt/

,obs *a$e to be remo$e"/ )ae bills *a$e to be c!t/ an" social %rorammes *a$e to be c!rtaile"6

T*e !ll eect o t*e IM5 loan arranement is +et to be elt6 1o)e$er/ recentl+ release" i!res?@s*o) an

increase" oicial !nem%lo+ment rate o ?@6 %er cent/ !% b+ abo!t %er cent an" a recor" *i*6 T*e A%ril

L? 0abo!r 5orce S!r$e+ s*o)e" onl+ L6= %er cent o ne) entrants to t*e labo!r orce o!n" ,obs6 At t*e

same time/ t*e Jamaican "ollar is sli"in 9no) $al!in belo) USL6L?6 T*e cost o basic oo"s *as

increase"/ an" t*ere are im%en"in rises in b!s an" ta8i ares as )ell as !tilit+ bills6

Abo!t L %er cent o t*e %o%!lation is belo) t*e %o$ert+ line an" not all )*o are !n"er t*e %o$ert+ line

are ettin beneits rom t*e 'roramme or A"$ancement T*ro!* 1ealt* an" E"!cation 9'AT16

5!rt*er/ criteria or beneitin rom 'AT1 eliminate t*ose )*o ma+/ or e8am%le/ *a$e a l!s* toilet or a

tele$ision set in t*eir *omes6 5or t*ose )*o 7!ali+/ beneits are minimal es%eciall+ com%are" to a risin

cost o li$in6

Increase" *ar"s*i%s are a*ea"/ %artic!larl+ or comm!nities t*at )ere alrea"+ "e%resse"/ mistr!st!l o

t*e %olice/ an" %rone to ,oinin or s!%%ortin ans6 Con$ersel+/ %lacin t*e %olice at o""s )it*

comm!nities beca!se o la)e" leislation )ill militate aainst economic reco$er+6

!$ Finance .inister to )eview ne*loyent Figures with (T5T&' %!blis*e" b+ Jamaica Inormation Ser$icesA!!st / L? *tt%:)))6,is6o$6,mne)slea"sG=GH

22


24/32

A$$arent reasons dri%in demand .or this "ill

T*e consens!s b+ o$ernment an" o%%osition t*at t*is Bill is nee"e" )o!l" s!est t*at social

inter$entions *a$e not %ro"!ce" t*e e8%ecte" res!lts6 5!rt*er/ "es%ite t*e n!mero!s eorts/ rates o

$iolent crime *a$e contin!e" to rise ater a "i% ater t*e L?L Ti$oli #ar"ens inc!rsion an" State o

Emerenc+6

It )o!l" a%%ear 90a!rent LLH t*at t*e State *as %ai" ins!icient attention to critical areas s!c* as social

an" e"!cational "e$elo%ment; rassroots economic o%%ort!nit+; la) enorcement; an" strent*enin

resi"ent %artici%ation in comm!nit+ o$ernance6 Crime control initiati$es le" b+ t*e State *a$e t*ereore

not so ar been eecti$e6 Reasons ar!abl+ incl!"e?H non(coo%eration bet)een resi"ents an" %olice;

%olice resortin to illeal means t*at com%romise t*e a!t*orit+ an" leitimac+ o t*e s+stem; an"

corr!%tion amon %oliticians an" %olice %ersonnel 91arriott/ LLK

T*e Criminal J!stice 9S!%%ression o Criminal Oranisations Bill t*ereore seems base" on:

• A%%arent lack o a)areness or inorance o a$ailable local an" international researc* an" "ata6

• A%%arent absence o reliance on "ata relate" s%eciicall+ to Jamaican ans an" an

members*i%/ as )ell as root ca!ses or criminal acti$it+;

• Absence o clear "einition o anF an" an memberF as relates to t*e Jamaican conte8t6

• Absence o in"ication t*at Jamaica3s c!rrent economic crisis )ill neati$el+ im%act t*e most

$!lnerable/ %ro$i"in t*em )it* "eclinin o%%ort!nities or em%lo+ment6• '!rs!it o meas!res t*at *a$e aile" in t*e %ast an" in ot*er co!ntries;

• Belies 9in %artic!lar abo!t criminolo+ t*at *a$e %ro$e" to be erroneo!s;

• Reliance on tra"itional met*o"s o "raconian leislation an" %aramilitar+ %olicin t*at *a$e so ar

aile" to control criminal oranisation an" seems to *a$e t*e o%%osite eect o escalatin it;

• Rel!ctance to a"o%t ne) *!man "e$elo%mental a%%roac*es to a""ressin crime6

!7 Ibi"

23


25/32

The "ill

T*is Bill is consi"ere" to be la)e" mainl+ beca!se o "iic!lties o "einin criminal oranisationF in

!nambi!o!s terms; t*e absence o clarit+ in ro!n"s or arrest/ an" t*e re7!irement t*at trials be in

camera an" ,!"e alone6 In a""ition/ t*is Bill seems to *a$e been "rate" b+ c!ttin an" %astin sections

rom o$erseas anti(an leislation?=/ an" )it*o!t "irect reerence to t*e com%le8 an" *i*l+ n!ance"

Jamaican en$ironment6 Most cr!ciall+/ t*is Bill $iolates !arantees %ro$i"e" to Jamaicans in international

instr!ments s!c* as t*e American Con$ention on 1!man Ri*ts an" t*e International Co$enant on Ci$il

an" 'olitical Ri*ts6

T*e Bill/ as it stan"s/ t*ereore seems !nlikel+ to better contrib!te to national sec!rit+ 9an" t*ereore

national "e$elo%ment t*an an+ o t*e "raconian leislation o t*e %ast GL +ears6

De.inition o. terms

A criminal oranisationF is "eine" as an+ an/ ro!%/ alliance/ net)ork/ combination or ot*er

arranement amon t*ree or more %ersons 9)*et*er ormall+ or inormall+ ailiate" or oranise" an"

)*et*er or not o%eratin t*ro!* one or more bo"ies cor%orate or ot*er associations t*at

9a 1as as one o its %!r%oses t*e commission o one or more serio!s oences; an"

9b In relation to )*ic* t*e %ersons )*o are a %art t*ereo or %artici%ate t*erein 9in"i$i"!all+/ ,ointl+/or collecti$el+

9i *a$e enae" in !nla)!l acti$it+ in or"er to obtain/ "irectl+ or in"irectl+/ a inancial or ot*er

material beneit or to ain %o)er or inl!ence; or9ii iss!e t*reats or enae in con"!ct to create ear or to intimi"ate or to e8ert %o)er o inl!ence

in comm!nities/ or o$er ot*er %ersons;

T*is "einition o criminal oranisationF is %artic!larl+ tro!blin beca!se:

!8 (tatutory Definitions in the nited (tates9 'lease note t*at t*e Unite" States *as no consens!s on t*e "einitiono anF or an member6 *tt%:)))6streetans6comla)sstates"eine"6*tml

2)


26/32

?6 Criminal oranisationF is associate" )it* terms t*at are t*emsel$es $a!e an" in"eterminate6

T*ere is no consens!s on t*e "einition o anF/ let alone ro!%F/ allianceF/ or net)orkF6

Accor"in to a %a%er %!blis*e" b+ Centre or J!ri"ical Sciences/ Bra6 'ersons in ormal or inormal ro!%s 9%ersons )*o come toet*er or recreation/ or as members

o s%orts or comm!nit+ cl!bs/ or more t*an t)o %ersons tra$ellin in a motor $e*icle risk bein

mistaken or an membersF6@6 It is !nclear )*at e$i"ence )ill %ro$e t*at a anF *a" commission o serio!s oences as its

%!r%ose6 1o)e$er/ i s!c* %roo e8ists/ t*en t*ere are alrea"+ la)s !n"er )*ic* s!c* a %erson or

ro!%s o %ersons co!l" be c*are"6H6 Similarl+/ i in"i$i"!als *a$e enae" in !nla)!l acti$it+F or *a$e iss!e" t*reatsF o an+ sort/

t*ere are alrea"+ oences )it* )*ic* t*ose in"i$i"!als co!l" be c*are"6=6 Most im%ortantl+/ %ersons )ill be %!nis*e" or )*at t*e+ are 9members o a criminal

orani


27/32

Section ?> 9? %ro$i"es ro!n"s or arrestin %ersons )*o !se a common name or i"enti+in s+mbol/

tattoo or ot*er %*+sical markin/ colo!r or st+le o "ress or raiti or %ro"!ce/ recor" or %erorm sons to

%romote or acilitate t*e criminal acti$it+ o a criminal orani


28/32

in$ol$in ,!$eniles/ cases t*at %resent a *i* %robabilit+ o sec!rit+ risks/ or cases in$ol$in

sensiti$e or classiie" inormation66 J*stice sho*ld be the $*r%ie1 o. 3*des and not $oliticians! J!"es o!*t to be able to

consi"er all alternati$es to closin a co!rtroom/ so as to %rotect a "een"ant3s ri*t to a air trial6

Stan"ar"s or clos!re s*o!l" be *i*/ an" s*o!l" be set b+ t*e ,!"iciar+ 9case b+ case rat*er t*ant*e e8ec!ti$e 9catc* all6

6 There is no ob3ecti%e data sho1in that o$en trials are im$edin deli%er+ o. 3*stice! A

Britis* ,!rist once sai"/ Not onl+ m!st J!stice be "one; it m!st also be seen to be "one6 T*at

a%*orism *ol"s tr!e to"a+6 O%en trials are t*ereore consi"ere" as con"!ci$e to b!il"in %!blic

coni"ence in Jamaica3s ,!stice s+stem beca!se:

• An o%en trial s!ests a air *earin; an"

• In a "emocratic societ+/ t*e %!blic beneits rom bein able to )itness co!rts o la) in

action6

4iolation o. international con%entions

Articles in bot* t*e American Con$ention on 1!man Ri*ts 9AC1R an" t*e International Co$enant on

Ci$il an" 'olitical Ri*ts 9ICC'R !arantee Jamaicans t*e ollo)in ri*ts:

a6 Ri*t to *!mane treatment: %!nis*ment m!st not be e8ten"e" to an+ %erson ot*er t*an t*e

criminal6

b6 Ri*t to air trial: trials m!st be %!blic e8ce%t )*ere necessar+ to %rotect t*e interests o ,!stice6c6 Ri*t to %ri$ac+ 9alrea"+ serio!sl+ inrine" b+ t*e Mone+ 0a!n"erin Act: t*ere s*o!l" be no

arbitrar+ intererence in someone3s %ri$ate lie/ amil+/ *ome/ or corres%on"ence6 F"6 Ri*t o %eace!l assembl+/ )it* s!c* e8ce%tions as ma+ be re7!ire" to %rotect t*e %!blic6e6 Ri*t to ree"om o association: no la) is to be a%%lie" so as to %re,!"ice t*is ri*t6

T*ese ri*ts can be abroate" or a limite" time in a State o Emerenc+6

Liel# e$ect of this Bill

27


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Accor"in to a st!"+ con"!cte" b+ t*e J!stice 'olic+ Instit!teL/ researc* s*o)s s!%%ression tactics are

co!nter(%ro"!cti$e )*ere ans are concerne"6 Meas!res t*at are inten"e" to ca!se +o!t*s to t*ink

t)iceF )ill oten *a$e t*e o%%osite eect:

• Reinorcin an co*esion;

• Ele$atin t*e an3s im%ortance;

• Strent*enin an !s $ers!s t*emF mentalit+; an"• Creatin *eroes or mart+rs o!t o an members )*o are incarcerate"6

T*e researc* s*o)s t*at %rison ten"s to soli"i+ an in$ol$ement an" )eaken an in"i$i"!al3s ca%acit+

to li$e a an( an" crime(ree lie6

T*is Bill t*ereore a%%ears "estine" to be %roblematic )it* res%ect to $a!eness o "einition o terms;

7!estionable ro!n"s or arrest; likeli*oo" o strent*enin rat*er t*an "ismantlin ans; likeli*oo" o

increasin mistr!st o ,!stice an" sec!rit+ s+stems beca!se o close" trials; an" %ossibilit+ o

constit!tional beca!se o t*e Bill3s inrinements o !n"amental ri*ts an" ree"oms6

2" Getting /ess for .ore: The Failed /egacy of Gang Enforceent %!blis*e" b+ J!stice'olic+ Instit!te*tt%:)))6,!stice%olic+6orimaes!%loa"LH(LHC*H#an4ars#C('S(AC(JJ6%"

28


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A((ENDI5

Anti2an leislation in other co*ntries

T*e e8%erience o co!ntries )it* anti(an leislation can "ee%en !n"erstan"in o )*at *as

)orke"/ )*at *as not )orke"/ an" )*at is !nlikel+ to )ork or likel+ to )orsen t*e Jamaican

crime sit!ation6

nite! States of America

Caliornia %asse" t*e Street Terrorism Enorcement an" 're$ention Act 9STE' Act in ?K==6 Since t*en/

abo!t L ot*er states ( *a$e enacte" similar leislation6 Des%ite leislation/ st!"ies s*o) t*at an

acti$it+ contin!es to be a )i"es%rea" %roblem across t*e Unite" States6 Accor"in to t*e 5BI?/ abo!t

/LLL $iolent street ans/ motorc+cle ans/ an" %rison ans )it* abo!t ?6G million members are

criminall+ acti$e in t*e U6S6 to"a+6 #an(relate" $iolence *as not ollo)e" t*e "o)n)ar" tren" in

$iolent crime nationall+6

9

l Salva!or

El Sal$a"or3s #an 'ro*ibition Act "o!ble" t*e ma8im!m %rison sentence or minors/ "eclare" an

members*i% illeal/ an" a$e t*e a!t*orities %ermission to ree


31/32

sai" %olice !se" t*e la) to ro!n" !% an members in mass arrests/ b!t t*at t*ese arrests rarel+ res!lt in

s!ccess!l %rosec!tions6

Cana!a

Cana"a3s anti(an leislation/ kno)n as Bill C(K>G )as %asse" in ?KKH an" tarete" biker ans6 T*e

irst con$iction !n"er t*is la) )as not )on !ntil LL?6 In LL>/ an Alberta ,!"e r!le" t*at %olice

$iolate" bikers3 constit!tional ri*ts "!rin a ?KKH roa"si"e c*eck6

Australia

Anti(an leislation in A!stralia/ as in Cana"a/ tarets motorc+cle ans6 On No$ember ?L/ L?L/ t*e

So!t* A!stralian 1i* Co!rt r!le" as !nconstit!tional t*e anti(an la)s t*at tarete" certain

oranisations an" members o t*ose oranisations6 > On J!ne / L??/ t*e A!stralian 1i* Co!rt

"eclare" t*e Ne) So!t* 4ales anti(an la) 9base" on So!t* A!stralia leislation to be in$ali"@6

#rini!a! / #o0ago

Trini"a" & Tobao3s anti(an leislation )as %romote" in L?? as an essential meas!re in t*e#o$ernments anti(crime "ri$e6 'assin s!c* "raconian leislation nee"e" a s%ecial ma,orit+ in

'arliament6 1o)e$er/ t*e t*en Attorne+ #eneral sai" "es%erate times re7!ire" stron meas!res6 1e sai"/

T*is leislation *as teet* t*at )ill bite "ee% into t*e les* !ntil )e reac* to t*e $er+ bone o t*is %roblem

an" cr!s* it6H

2) Canada6s anti-gang law %!blis*e" in CBC Ne)s Online A%ril ?L/ LL@ an" accesse" on A!!st ?/

L? *tt%:)))6cbc6cane)sbackro!n"bikeransantianla)6*tml

2# Draconian (outh 5ustralian anti-bi2ie laws declared invalid by High Court %!blis*e" in t*e A!stralian No$ember ??/ L?L *tt%:)))6t*ea!stralian6com6a!ne)snation"raconian(so!t*(a!stralian(anti(bikie(la)s("eclare"(in$ali"(b+(*i*(co!rtstor+(e@r@n(?>K>?HH?KL?

2$ 5ustralia: High Court Declares 5nti-Gang /aw &nvalid %!blis*e" b+ t*e 0a) 0ibrar+ o Conress

*tt%:)))6loc6o$la))ebser$letllocne)s"is%lL>GLHGte8t

3"


32/32

5ormer attorne+ eneral o Trini"a"/ Rames* 0a)rence Ma*ara,/ *as "escribe" t*e Anti(#an Act as

la)e"6F= 1e sai"/ T*e Act o!*t to be looke" at !rentl+6 T*e "einition is circ!lar an" t*at is t*e

ro!te o t*e matter beca!se i an an" an(relate" acti$ities cannot be %ro%erl+ "eine" in criminal la)

t*at is t*e en" o t*e matter6 T*is is not somet*in t*at co!l" be "one r!s*e" beca!se )e are oin to

enco!nter %roblems6F

Ater t*e anti(an leislation )as %asse"/ t*e %olice 7!ickl+ arreste" abo!t G@ %ersons6 1o)e$er/ t*e

co!rts ree" $irt!all+ all o t*em or lack o e$i"ence6 It )as t*en "eci"e" t*at t*e %olice nee"e" s%ecial

trainin in im%lementin t*e la)/ an" trainin )as %ro$i"e"6 1o)e$er/ no one *as been arreste" !n"er

t*is Act since Se%tember L??6 T*e onl+ case o con$iction !n"er t*e anti(an la) occ!rre" in J!l+

L?K6

27 Tie to revisit the 5nti-Gang 5ct %!blis*e" in t*e Trini"a" E8%ress December ??/ L??

*tt%:)))6trini"a"e8%ress6comcommentariesTimetore$isitt*eAnti(#anAct(?>G?HH6*tml

28 5nti-Gang 5ct flawed?)aesh %!blis*e" in t*e Trini"a" #!ar"ian No$ember H/L??*tt%:)))6!ar"ian6co6ttne)sL????L@anti(an(act(la)e"(rames*

2 (outh an ailed under anti-gang law %!blis*e" in t*e Trini"a" #!ar"ian J!l+ ?/L?*tt%:)))6!ar"ian6co6ttne)sL?(LH(?so!t*(man(,aile"(!n"er(anti(an(la)

Documents

Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Anti-gang Bill Sent August 28, 2013