Preventing young people from entering the criminal justice system and improving outcomes for those who do were among the key themes explored during a high-level exchange between correctional leaders from Saint Lucia and Guyana.
Research presented during the engagement examined both the factors that contribute to delinquent and violent behaviour among youth and the conditions that help create safer, more effective correctional institutions.
On Monday, June 15, Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot and the leadership team of the Guyana Prison Service met with Saint Lucia’s Acting Director of Correctional Services, Kerwin Albert, along with Research Officers Dr. Montelle Felix and Dr Leonard Johnny as part of efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and share best practices in correctional management.
One of the key presentations was delivered by Dr. Leonard Johnny and focused on “Early Intervention to Imprisonment.” Drawing on research conducted in secondary schools across Saint Lucia, the study examined factors that contribute to delinquent and violent behaviour among young people. The findings were used to develop preventative strategies and programmes designed to address the root causes of criminal behaviour before at-risk youth become involved in the criminal justice system and eventually receive prison sentences.
The presentation highlighted the importance of identifying risk factors early and implementing targeted interventions aimed at steering vulnerable young people away from criminal activity and toward more positive life outcomes.
While Dr. Johnny’s presentation focused on preventing young people from entering the criminal justice system, Dr. Montelle Felix’s research examined what happens after individuals enter correctional institutions.
Drawing on research conducted during his doctoral studies in Taiwan, Dr. Felix presented findings from a study involving 1,025 inmates across ten prisons that explored the factors shaping inmate trust in correctional officers and how trust contributes to institutional legitimacy, compliance and prison order.
The research found that trust was not primarily influenced by inmate demographics or criminal history. Instead, it was shaped largely by factors such as procedural justice, distributive justice, social support and prison quality of life.
According to the findings, inmates were more likely to cooperate with correctional officers and comply voluntarily with institutional rules when they perceived officers and institutions as fair, respectful and legitimate.
The study also found that when trust breaks down, correctional institutions may face increased tension, conflict, grievances and resistance to authority, creating additional challenges for maintaining institutional stability.
Dr. Felix’s presentation provided an opportunity to discuss how evidence-based correctional leadership, fairness and institutional legitimacy can contribute to safer and more effective correctional facilities.
Acting Director of Correctional Services Kerwin Albert also outlined Saint Lucia’s modern correctional approach, which places rehabilitation and reintegration at the centre of prison management.
According to Albert, programmes at the Bordelais Correctional Facility include education, vocational skills training, anger management, trauma recovery and wellness initiatives, as well as partnerships that support community service and family reconnection.
“The goal is to equip inmates with practical skills and mindset changes to reduce reoffending and prepare them for life after release,” Albert explained.
The engagement also focused on security and intelligence management within correctional facilities and provided an opportunity for both countries to exchange perspectives on strengthening institutional performance and correctional leadership.
Elliot said the Guyana Prison Service remains committed to improving rehabilitation and reintegration opportunities while supporting public safety in alignment with the Government of Guyana’s broader reform and security agenda.
The meeting comes as the Guyana Prison Service continues to expand its regional partnerships. Recently, the service signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with nine regional partners, including Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Grenada, The Bahamas, Anguilla, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Officials said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing correctional reform, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting the exchange of best practices throughout the Caribbean.
The discussions highlighted a common theme emerging across modern correctional systems: safer communities are built not only through enforcement, but also through prevention, rehabilitation, evidence-based policy and institutions capable of maintaining authority while earning trust.
