A local community has decried plans by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to set up a halfway house to support prisoners in their re-entry and readjustment to society.
The Woodlands New Broughton Sunset Rehabilitation Centre, if it gets the go-ahead, would be situated near to a school, much to the alarm of parents and local residents who fear for the safety of local children, reported the Jamaica Observer.
The Department of Correctional Services and the United Church of Jamaican and Grand Cayman, which owns the property, have together come up with US$30 million to renovate the building after it was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan last year.
The centre originally housed elderly convicts in the adult correctional system in the 1980s. The former prisoners to be housed here this time will be for medium to low-risk persons on their way out of the system.
The centre aims to provide a halfway point where reintegration with the family can begin and men can be prepared for re-entry into the job market. The house guests would be under the professional supervision of caregivers.
Prison boss Major Richard Reese assured local residents that sex or violent offenders would not be among those place at the centre.
-
Nicaragua bans international visitors from bringing in Bibles
-
Controversial US bishop to give BBC Christmas message
-
The little-known history of the X in Xmas
-
Evangelical vicar accused of abuse won't stand trial
-
Pastor who gave sermon near abortion clinic stands trial
-
Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'
Most Popular
News
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The mystery of the Wise Men
The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.