Harvard University professor Charles Nesson (left) chats with Desmond Green, head of the Reverence for Life Foundation for prison rehabilitation, Makonnen Blake-Hannah (second right), Youth Technology advisor, and Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell (right), at the launch of the training for trainers programme to introduce Information Technology to prison inmates, at the South Camp Rehabilitation Centre yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer REHABILITATION OF prison inmates through Information and Communications Technology (ICT), under a Harvard University/Government project, will start next month.
It will begin with the training of trainers programme, with trained persons working in ICT with inmates in the four major correctional centres.
Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell said that work commenced two years ago with Harvard and the concept has since developed and is now operational.
Harvard Professor Charles Nesson, of the University's justice division, who is a part of a team in Jamaica working on a number of projects, has a specific interest in community development and rehabilitation. They are trying to introduce ICT into correctional institutions to ensure that prisoners are able to secure a livelihood and tap into their talents while in prison, as well as be fully functional when they get out.
The establishment of four fully-operational 20-seat computer labs at Tower Street, South Camp, Fort Augusta and St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centres should complete the process.
Funded through the Intech programme, the Government will contribute $3 million towards the project. The first course will see Youth Technology advisor Makonnen Blake-Hannah off to Boston next month, joined by Anneisha McLaughlin, IAAF relay gold medallist, who the Minister said would be given the opportunity as an athlete to self-develop through technology.
Head of the Reverence for Life Foundation, Desmond Green, has also been given a one-year fellowship to Harvard to become involved in the training process and they all are expected to bring back their expertise to help the inmates and look at how ICT can provide training for them on-line with on-par software and equipment.
Reverence for Life is a rehabilitation programme where the inmate is encouraged to change through positive thinking, positive action and a reliance on individual inner-energy. Each convert acts as coach to the newest member and gives counsel in informal sessions.
