This is Probation and Parole Week. Each day the Caymanian Compass has carried an article explaining what Cayman Islands Department of Probation and Aftercare does.
Restructuring and development years – 1997 – 2003
As a result of a review of the Judicial Department carried out by an overseas advisor in 1996, all the probation services along with the two probation officers were in 1997 transferred back to the Department of Social Services.
Director of the Department, Mrs. Deanna Look Loy, assumed responsibility for probation officers and their work.
In March 1998 the restructuring of probation services was completed.
The Probation and Welfare Office was renamed The Probation/Aftercare Unit and relocated to the Inco Building in George Town.
Mr. John Retson, from Scotland, was appointed supervisor/senior probation officer to manage the newly restructured unit.
A year later in 1999 Mr. Cleviston Hunte joined the unit in the capacity as probation officer.
Mr. Retson’s main asset was his managerial style in overseeing the responsibilities of the operations of the unit. Mr. Retson continued to build on and enhanced the administrative structure he found in place.
He developed and organised group work programmes, educational, tasks oriented and work shops. He initiated Domestic Violence and Anger Management group programmes for men. He also rewrote the philosophical and procedural format for the Community Service Order Programme which was transferred as part of the restructuring exercise.
Mrs. Blondie Uzzle was transferred from the Immigration Department to fill the new post of community service coordinator in 2000. Her duties included the recruitment and retention of community work sponsors and supervision of persons placed on court community service orders.
During Mr. Retson’s tenure of office, the Probation/ Aftercare Unit and all its adult related rehabilitative services were completely separated from the managerial and administrative role of the Department of Children and Family Services in 2003.
The unit continued to fully operate on its own at its present office location, Windjammer Plaza, Walkers Road under the Ministry of Health and Human Services.
Defining, refining & designing years – 2003 – 2007
Upon the departure of Mr. Retson in 2003, Mrs. Teresa Echenique-Bowen, was promoted to the position of manager of the Probation and Aftercare Unit. She has the distinction of being the first female manager of the Probation/Aftercare Unit since its establishment as an independent Government entity.
Mrs. Bowen’s strong organisational skills have spearheaded broader public awareness and recognition of the probation and aftercare services. She formulated the Mission Statement for the department thus defining the agency’s role.
Under her leadership the Probation/Aftercare Unit has not only undergone a refining process, but has expanded its probation and parole group work services with the establishment of various group work programmes including a long-term based Men’s Non-Violence Programme aimed at male perpetrators of domestic violence.
In 2004, Mr. Cleviston Hunte was appointed senior probation officer; a post he holds to date. He continues to be instrumental in maintaining team coherence and compliance through his supervisory skills and knowledge of social work practice as it applies to probation and parole services.
Approval was given in July 2006 to change the designation of the Probation Aftercare Unit to the Department of Probation and Aftercare.
With this change in designation Mrs. Echenique-Bowen was appointed the department’s first director.
This decision and the organisational changes and development came at a crucial time, especially with the passing of the Alternative Sentencing and the Drug Court Laws.
Today, the Department of Probation & Aftercare operates and functions as an independent department under the Ministry of Health and Human Services.
The Mission Statement is:
The Department of Probation and Aftercare is committed to the implementation of the rehabilitative mandate of the court and Parole Board through:
Social work intervention
Quality supervision
Innovative programmes
Treatment plans
To assist our clients to be more productive citizens while reducing the level of offending behaviours and promoting public safety.
The department’s main clientele is adult offenders (17 and older). The wide variety of services consists of:
Pre-sentencing reports to the courts
Pre-release reports to the Parole Board
Community supervision of persons both on court orders and parole licenses
Educational and preventive group programmes in the community and prisons, such as:
Anger Management
Domestic Violence for the Perpetrator
Parole Support Group
Stress Management
Time to Change
These services on a more condensed level are provided to Cayman Brac by the full time probation officer.
Future projection-2007 and beyond
Crime unfortunately will be an ongoing issue, however preventive methods and a holistic approach, may determine whether there is an increase and how serious criminal activities are in the future. It is therefore of great importance that a strategic plan is implemented and supported throughout the three Islands.
With the new alternative sentencing and drug treatment court laws, community-based orders and efforts to rehabilitate is expected to grow significantly. This, as a result, will continue to place increasing demands on the services of the Probation Department and therefore it is anticipated that this department will continue to develop and play an important role in the rehabilitative efforts in the Cayman Islands.
In addition to the role of the Probation Department, to truly have a positive impact on crime and re-offending behaviours, it is imperative that other agencies and the community as a whole play an important role to ensure that all the needs of the offender are met.
Although it is not always possible to have all the relevant agencies working under one Ministry, the required holistic approach is possible in our small community with open communication, collaborative efforts, clear guidelines and similar goals.
The entire staff of the Department of Probation and Aftercare under the ably leadership of Mrs. Echnique-Bowen, director, and Mr. Cleviston Hunte, senior probation officer is committed to fulfilling the mandate of our mission statement as we assiduously pool our efforts towards: Hope and Change Through Community Rehabilitation.
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