USAID/JAMAICA COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING ASSISTANCE 

PROGRESS REPORT 

APRIL 2009 

BACKGROUND 

1. On January 10, 2002, the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs 

Appropriations Act, 2002 was signed into law. Section 587 of the Act provided authority for the 

use of funds for a community-based police assistance program in Jamaica. This began in 2002 

and is expected to continue through September 30, 2009. Police assistance will be continued 

into the new Country Assistance Strategy period beginning FY 2010. 

2. Since the start of the initiative under the auspices of USAID/Jamaica’s Democracy and 

Governance program, consistent progress has been made. Following on a pilot community 

policing activity in Grants Pen, Kingston, which spanned the period October 2002 to March 

2006, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has broadened its approach by 

assisting Jamaica’s police force - the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) - mainstream community 

policing throughout the island. 

3. On March 13, 2006, USAID began the 

Community Empowerment and 

Transformation (COMET) project. It 

is designed to reduce crime and 

violence and strengthen economic 

competitiveness in Jamaica’s inner-city 

communities. The project is helping 

transform poor, underserved 

communities beset with violent crime. 

Its activities also include support for 

anti-corruption reforms, microenterprise development, and civic 

participation. The program brings 

together the expertise of a variety of 

partners: key Government of Jamaica 

(GOJ) agencies - the Ministry of National Security (MNS), JCF, Social Development 

Commission (SDC); community-based and non-governmental organizations; as well as the U.S.-

based implementing partner Management Systems International (MSI). USAID also works 

collaboratively with other USG agencies, including the U.S. Embassy’s Narcotics Affairs Section, 

U.S. Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to complement policing 

activities and deepen the impact of USG assistance in Jamaica.

Mr. Omar Frith, Stella Maris Foundation and Member of the Grants Pen Community 

Policing Coordination Committee discussing community security issues with residents

in Grants Pen, 2008.

4. Total funding to MSI from March 2006, to date, is $6,746,8871

 (using FY 2005, 2006, 2007, and 

2008 funds). 

 

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 Total funding includes funds specially notified for community policing as well as funds for anti-corruption, microenterprise development, and 

civic participation. 

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5. As a result of an assessment of Jamaica’s experiences with community-based policing - 

“Jamaica – Community-Based Policing Assessment” - commissioned by USAID and 

conducted by the JCF, USAID, and the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 2007, USAID’s 

community transformation mandate was significantly strengthened and broadened from a 

geographically-specific approach to one that addresses systemic and institutional needs. This 

permits closer work with and through the JCF as an institution rather than with individual police 

stations. It also brought USAID into a closer relationship with the SDC and Parish 

Development Committees island-wide. Subsequent publication of the JCF’s Strategic Review2

provided timely policy and organizational development frameworks for USAID’s enhanced 

approach to policing assistance. 

6. JCF-wide adoption of community-based policing philosophy and methods are central to the 

culture change3 and other key reforms stipulated in the Strategic Review Implementation Plan 

(STRIP). USAID’s approach to community-based policing promotes culture change and 

institutional reform within the JCF. For the 2008-2009 period covered in this report, this area of 

USAID’s work includes: 

 Mainstreaming and documenting lessons learned and best practices in Jamaica’s experiences 

in community-based policing to date; 

 Technical and administrative support for the implementation of the JCF’s Strategic Review 

Implementation Plan; 

 Further institutional strengthening and organizational development of the JCF and its 

partners; and 

 Continued partnership building with existing structures and institutions such as the SDC, 

Parish Safety Committees, and agencies focused on social and economic development. 

ACHIEVEMENTS 

1. USAID has assisted the JCF in moving from a pilot approach to island-wide implementation. 

Community-based policing is recognized as both an organizational and an individual policing 

philosophy. The community-based policing philosophy has changed the institutional culture of 

the JCF. 

2. The success of the mainstreaming effort can be traced to a series of senior officers’ workshops 

to encourage buy-in and leadership at the divisional level. An added benefit from this 

consultative process has been the strengthening of relationships between key functional and 

operational branches of the JCF. 

 

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 The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Strategic Review was undertaken between July 2007 and April 2008 by a distinguished panel of 

Jamaican and international experts. The JCF Strategic Review report contains 124 recommendations for transforming the JCF. The report has

been adopted by the Ministry of National Security and the JCF as the roadmap for police reform, and is being supported by all the international 

development partners working on security and justice in Jamaica. 

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 The Strategic Review describes the dominant culture of the JCF as one that is incongruent with that required of a modern, professional, police 

service. Culture change describes the need for the JCF organization and its officers to address behavior, beliefs, attitudes and ways of working 

through interventions targeted at improving leadership capacity, management, effectiveness, professional skills, integrity and accountability. 

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3. Community-based policing relies on the formation of strategic partnerships with social agencies 

and communities. USAID provided assistance to sensitize various agencies and clarify their 

respective roles and responsibilities in implementing community-based policing. USAID also 

helped to operationalize a 

Memorandum of 

Understanding signed between 

the SDC and the JCF by 

facilitating joint planning. This 

was followed by joint 

Divisional- and Parish-level 

development Safety and 

Security Planning Workshops. 

As a result, 38 communities 

involved in community-based 

policing have completed the 

development of Community 

Safety and Security Plans that 

will guide partnership 

development and action geared 

towards achieving community 

safety. 

4. USAID supported technical 

training for over 300 dedicated 

community police officers and 

School Resource Officers. 

The JCF’s Community Safety 

and Security Branch (CSSB) 

distributed 1,000 copies of the 

Community Policing Manual 

(developed with USAID 

technical assistance) while the 

SDC distributed 1,000 copies 

of a directory of locallyavailable social services (also 

prepared and produced with 

USAID support). With 

USAID assistance, the SDC 

revised their data collection 

instrument in preparation for 

developing comprehensive 

community profiles to aid 

partnership-building and 

planning. Work is progressing on a Community-Based Policing Training Manual, which will be 

used by the Police Academy for pre-service and in-service training. 

Community Based Policing (CBP) Wheel: This CBP wheel was developed by JCF Assistant

Commissioner Novelette Grant and is part of the materials used in USAID supported orientation

and training on CBP for all ranks of officers, as well as other partners. CBP is central to the JCF’s

goal of culture change and this illustration places CBP as the philosophy at the heart of all aspects

of policing. This wheel also illustrates how the nine principles of CBP (the Nine P’s) address all 

aspects of modern policing strategies and operations. The wheel also features a definition of CBP 

developed by the JCF, SDC and other partners.

5. Community-based policing has also become critical to addressing the gang phenomenon. 

Several initiatives were undertaken in partnership with the police to reduce youth crime and the 

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rise of youth gangs. These included interventions to reduce the school dropout rate and address 

student violence and delinquency. USAID also supported workshops and study tours on gang 

reduction themes for law enforcement officers and provided technical support to the JCF and 

Ministry of National Security in their continuing efforts to develop a comprehensive national 

gang reduction strategy. 

6. There is a substantial improvement in the quality of public discourse about community-based 

policing. This can be attributed to a greater understanding of community policing, encouraged 

by USAID-supported public education efforts. This has enhanced the quality of partnerships 

between the public and law enforcement. USAID supported a wide-ranging public education 

campaign by the JCF that included inserting a specially designed module on community safety 

and security into materials for school children; disseminating messages via radio, television, 

internet, and the print media; local launches of community-based policing programs; and an 

island-wide, school-based poster competition. 

NEXT STEPS 

1. Community-based policing is central to the JCF’s 

culture change process and is a tested approach for 

gang reduction, both of which are identified as critical 

for addressing community safety and security. The 

JCF is at a critical juncture in its mainstreaming of 

community-based policing. Further technical 

assistance and support are required to protect the 

investment and consolidate the gains that have been 

realized with USAID assistance to date. Continued 

support will include: 

 Sensitization of JCF officers with nongeographic and support responsibilities, and 

other partners: To date, orientation, training and 

sensitization on CBP has been focused on Area 

and Divisional commanders and officers as well as 

dedicated Community safety Officers and School 

Resource Officers all operating in geographic 

divisions (19) and area (5). Given the central role 

of CBP as the organizational philosophy, the JCF 

recognizes the importance of training leaders and 

officers in those functional and support units 

within the JCF that do not have mandates in 

specific geographic zones. It is also recognized 

that community partners, the general public, other 

state agencies and partners also required broad 

sensitization and training on CBP to facilitate their 

participation and support in problem solving 

partnerships. 

JCF Community Policing Poster Competition: In

support of a JCF public education program on community 

policing, USAID sponsored a school based poster competition.

 The poster competition, held in partnership with the Fresh

Start Program out of the Office of the Prime Minister, was

geared at improving awareness of CBP. It also served as a

means of gauging students’ reaction to the police and 

attracted 135 entries from 45 primary and secondary 

schools. This featured poster is from a 12 year old 

participant.

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 Public education and support for activities that enable police-citizen engagement: 

Successful CBP hinges on the development of sustainable and effective partnerships 

between police and citizens. Improved understanding of CBP and the roles and 

responsibilities of all stakeholders is fundamental to building such partnerships. Through 

various public education fora and utilizing different media, USAID will support public 

education efforts around CBP and community safety. 

 Training and training materials for the JCF to various ranks within the organization: 

The need for consistent reinforcement of CBP through training has been established as an 

important means of institutionalizing CBP. Training materials will have be developed in 

modules appropriate for different ranks and functions within the JCF in order to standardize 

the knowledge and understanding of CBP as well as to delineate the roles and responsibilities 

of respective groups of officers. These groups include Senior Officers and Commanders, 

Trainers, Community Safety and School Resource Officers, front line officers, staff with HR 

and Administrative functions etc. 

 Support for a comprehensive gang reduction strategy that involves community based 

policing and training for law enforcement officers: CBP has been identified as a key 

strategy for addressing the problem of criminal gangs. USAID is supporting the GOJ’s 

efforts at developing a comprehensive gang strategy in which CBP will play a central role 

and underscores the need for training broadly throughout the JCF in CBP to build its 

capacity to address gangs and organized crime. 

 Promoting Jamaican law enforcement and other key security stakeholder cooperation 

with neighboring countries on transnational gang reduction: USAID Jamaica has led 

successful initiatives that have resulted in the establishment of a framework for cooperation 

on gangs and transnational crime involving Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, 

Bahamas and the U.S. (South Florida). There is the need for cooperation and sharing of 

information, knowledge and skills across countries to support regional and sub-regional 

efforts to address gangs and transnational crime. To the extent that CBP is recognized as an 

important strategy, USAID will facilitate sharing of experience and knowledge on CBP 

strategy and policy development across countries. 

 Support for implementation of strategic review recommendations: The JCF Strategic 

Review Report has 124 recommendations of which culture change is one of the most critical 

reform measures. In support of the implementation of the recommendations, the Ministry 

of National Security and the JCF has established a Strategic Review Implementation Unit 

that is charged with the responsibility for implementing these recommendations over a five 

year period. USAID will support the establishment of the STRIP unit by recruiting 

appropriate staff and providing other technical assistance and will support specific 

interventions including community based policing to address culture change.