Crime and Violence in the Caribbean : Lessons from Jamaica

This book discusses the recent crime and violence trends in the Caribbean highlighting its history and current challenges that continue to impede its development. Theoretical explanations are offered for the existing conditions and discussion of the need of a paradigm shift in policy development to combat the crime problem.

This volume provides an overview of the Caribbean countries, its colonial history, causes, costs and consequences of crime and violence in the Caribbean. The contributors pull from primary research and the available data from multiple sources including national and country specific reports to assess the magnitude, characteristics, and the changing nature of crimes in various Caribbean countries. Discussion is offered on the following crime issue: gender-based violence, homicides, drugs, gangs, money laundering, murder suicided, deportation and the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) to fight crime. In addition, the book provides a discussion of the crime prevention capabilities of selected countries looking at the nature of the crime problem, offers an assessment of the crime prevention capabilities and makes suggestions for policy development.