THE Department of Correctional Services is taking a holistic approach to rehabilitating young girls in state care at the South Camp Road Juvenile Remand and Correctional Centre in Kingston.

Commissioner of Corrections Ina Hunter says an approximately $248-million (US$1.93-million) donation from the United States Agency for has enabled the facilitation of several social reintegration programmes at the centre, all tailored towards improving the girls’ lives.

She said the programmes being carried out with support from the Organization of American States (OAS), are designed to enhance the youngsters’ emotional well-being, which it is anticipated will contribute to reduced recidivism and, ultimately, reduced crime and violence.

The OAS’s involvement entails assigning its members to the South Camp centre to teach the various programmes to the staff there.

They train them in areas such as how to impart educational information for the different age groups, technical and vocational training, as well as recreational activities, for example yoga.

Hunter noted that the South Camp Road facility, which is one of four housing children and the only one accommodating girls only, has experienced a significant and positive impact resulting from the OAS-implemented programmes.

“We offer life skills, remedial training, and vocational activities such as sewing, home economics and animation,” she said.

She said the institution’s gender-specific rehabilitation programme results from the increasing number of girls displaying delinquent behaviour who are committed to the facility.

A probation and aftercare service programme is also in place for the girls after they have been discharged.

These services are administered by the probation and parole officers, social workers, and civil society organisations, and enables the department to monitor the girls’ activities over a specified period after their departure.

“These persons (officers, workers and organisations) are responsible for the community interventions. So they investigate and provide reports to see if they are staying out of trouble,” Hunter said.

She said the institution and, by extension, the department, remain committed to improving and implementing strategies that enhance the rehabilitation programme.

This, she added, is being done by assisting adolescent girls to achieve self-empowerment in order to create a better life for themselves and helping them to mature into strong, self-confident young women.

“We believe young ladies need the security of one-on-one relationships as well as building a relationship with others. This has to come from the parents. For those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law, our programmes allow them to find themselves and their worth,” she said.

An 18-year-old young woman who spent just over two years at the South Camp Road Centre, says she left the institution a better person.

“Vocationally I was taught how to sew, like doing embroidery and hemming clothes. Academically, I improved… I studied and passed two CXCs (social studies and English language). I also learnt how to do domestic things, in terms of washing, cleaning and taking care of my living space,” she said.

She said she was frequently locked up in another juvenile detention centre, and explained that her stay at the South Camp Road facility was the turning point in her life.

“I developed my leadership qualities there. When I spoke to them (girls) they listened to me and looked up to me,” she said.

Additionally, she said she was able to use the guidance provided by the warders in a positive way.

For her part, superintendent of the South Camp Road centre, Maulette White, said the programmes are based on cognitive restructuring of conduct, which takes in behaviour and is based on thought, attitudes, and beliefs.

White said the goal is to provide a safe, structured and caring environment, which promotes each girl’s personal growth.

The institution, which caters for females aged 12 to 17, has 42 girls. Of these, 10 are on correctional order, which facilitates a fixed date for them to go home based on a judge’s ruling.