SOP Manual of DCS Contributes to Positive Changes

The Positive Behaviour Management Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has resulted in improved relations between staff and Wards.

Correctional Officer at the Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional Centre in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Corporal Glenford Francis, said the morale of staff and the behaviour of Wards are “trending positively” since implementation of the manual.

“Our staff has become more confident, cohesive and effective in their interactions with the Wards,” he said.

“This comprehensive programme has not only equipped me with essential skills and strategies to foster a healthier environment for our Wards but it has also significantly transformed the way our staff engages with the young individuals in our care,” Corporal Francis said, at the recent official launch of the manual, at the institution.

“The approach emphasises empathy, understanding and constructive communication, which directly impact our ability to create positive behavioural changes. The practical techniques provided are invaluable,” he added.

The operational system aligns directly with Goal 3 of the National Correctional Services Policy (NCSP) Green Paper, which is to strengthen rehabilitation services offered to offender clients, with a priority to create a structure that is fair, rehabilitative and results driven.

Corporal Francis said the modern system has not only enhanced the day-to-day experience for everyone involved but has also “fostered a sense of safety and respect that encourages personal growth among our Wards, and the environment is noticeably more positive”.

He pointed out that the Wards are “responding better”, taking the initiative in their own development and forming a “healthier relationship with staff and peers alike”.

“I would recommend the positive behaviour management training to institutions seeking to improve their approach to behaviour management,” he added.

One of the Wards who was presented with the ‘Most Behaving Ward’ trophy, said as a person aspiring to be a model or a surgeon, she is embracing change, because “I must change, it is something I need.”

She urged other Wards not to see their lives in negative ways, and not to be trapped by social media.

“Take pride in your attire. You are here for a short time. I changed myself. I don’t want to go back to the way I was. Education is a must. Strive for excellence and always, always reach for the sky,” she said.

Commissioner of Corrections, Brigadier (rt’d.) Radgh Mason, said the behaviour management system is a “great initiative” in their continued journey towards rehabilitation, accountability, and the transformation within the juvenile correctional centres.

“We recognise that our young people, despite their challenges, hold tremendous potential. It is our duty not only to provide secure custody but to equip the youngsters with disciplined values and skills that they will need to re-enter society as responsible citizens,” the Commissioner said.

He emphasised that the system ensures that the DCS’ approach to behaviour management is consistent, fair and transparent, and that young charges will “clearly understand” how their actions lead to consequences, both positive and negative, and it is creating an environment where discipline is seen as an opportunity for growth rather than punishment.

“The manual also categorises offences and best practices. By defining these offences and giving clear categories, we remove ambiguity and strengthen the decision-making processes of our officers. It prescribes best practice interventions aimed at reinforcing positive behaviour, rather than simply penalising the negative ones,” the Commissioner said.

He pointed out that the system enhances accountability and fills the gaps in the curriculum, while strengthening the integrity of the juvenile services by holding both staff and Wards accountable, and addresses existing holes in the rehabilitation curriculum, ensuring that their approach is comprehensive, evidence-based and geared towards producing positive long-term outcomes.

“It is about hope. It is about opportunity. It is about ensuring that every young person who enters our system leaves with a renewed sense of purpose,” the Commissioner said.

A key partner in the development of the system was the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and its Deputy Country Representative, Muhammad Mohiuddin, said the operating manual represents a “transformative shift” in how children who come in conflict with the law are supported, noting that they are equipping staff with the necessary tools to guide and support children effectively, fostering an environment that prioritises behavioural rehabilitation over punitive measures.

“UNICEF Jamaica is proud to have partnered with the Department of Correctional Services, working together to train staff and convert this manual from a document into a dynamic framework for action. Our investment in capacity-building, sensitisation sessions, and the development of structured behavioural management programmes align with our broader goal of ensuring that Jamaica’s child-protection system is strengthened to provide quality, gender-responsive, and violence-free services,” he said.

Director of Juvenile Services at the DCS, Claudeth Hamilton, said the phased implementation of the SOP in juvenile correctional and remand centres involved the training of 150 juvenile services staff, including superintendents, assistant superintendents, correctional officers, corporals, staff officers, overseers, teachers, instructors, welfare case managers, housemothers, casual workers, chaplains, probation officers, psychologists and psychiatrists, rehabilitation managers, and 245 children in three institutions.

“What this SOP seeks to do is to recognise children who are behaving and address the behaviours of those who are not complying,” she said.

“While it serves to guide the decisions taken by staff in the administration of the rehabilitation and reintegration programmes… special emphasis is placed on the human rights of the children. The children were sensitised and made aware that they have a responsibility to their own self-development and success,” Miss Hamilton said.

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