Policy Responses and Gang Related Homicides in Jamaica

• In Event: El crimen organizado en América Latina y el Caribe: instituciones, actores, información y escenarios

Abstract

Gang related activities have been problematic for Jamaica. Police records suggest that gang related homicides account for 50% of the total number of murders in the country. Utilizing interviews and the review of data on gang related homicides between 2008 and 2013, the objectives of the study included providing a descriptive of gang related homicides in Jamaica through variables such as membership of gangs, locations and type of weapons. Another objective was to outline some of the responses to see if there has been a reduction in the number of incidents during the years. One preliminary finding suggested that gang related killings may have been affected in the latter years by the heavy focus of police operations on reducing gangs in Jamaica. However, this is not significant and requires a more detailed examination based on limitations such as the definition of gangs and other contextual issues impacting gangs.

Author

• Tarik T Weekes, Violence Prevention Alliance-Jamaica Chapter