THE NATIONAL Task Force on Crime Prevention is in the process of rebranding its operations under its new name – the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit.
This was disclosed Friday by Director Cheryl Willoughby, as she addressed the opening ceremony of the annual ‘Boys to Men’ workshop at the 3Ws Oval at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
Speaking to the media about the name change, Willoughby explained it better reflected the work of the Unit, which operated as the research arm of the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Our research arm and the planning component speak to the crime prevention work that we are currently engaged in, and the formulation of policy documents to inform legislation, policy and programming. That’s the direction we are hoping to go in, hence the name change,” she explained.
She added that the findings of the completed Police Customer Satisfaction survey will be launched next week, and would speak to the public’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services which the police provide.
During the upcoming financial year, the Unit will also carry out research in the areas of gun violence, gangs in Barbados, the amount of money the island spends to treat crime from a medical or criminal justice perspective and a marijuana survey to determine its prevalence on the island.
A survey to examine the barriers preventing ex-offenders from reintegrating into society, and factors which caused them to re-offend, was also completed. (BGIS)
