NASSAU, Bahamas — A study on the profile of prisoners in The Bahamas reveals that 40 percent of inmates committed crimes based on their economic conditions.
Academics at The College of The Bahamas released their research on crime during a violence research symposium on Thursday at the college.
One of the studies explored crime through the eyes of prison inmates.
The profile of sentenced inmates revealed that the number one driver of criminal activity among the 336 surveyed inmates was related to economic circumstances.
However, most respondents reported that they had jobs at the time of their arrest. Only four percent said they were unemployed.
During her presentation, professor of Sociology Jessica Minnis reasoned that many of the jobs were low paying.
The research further explained that, “For the purposes of the study, an economic reason was defined as any statement that indicated any level of material want or needs; or registered any concern about the means of attaining material wants or needs.”
In addition to economic, other reasons listed behind criminal activity were association, drugs, anger, lack of religion, stress, and neglect, among other things.
Among the inmates who were employed, 62 percent were employed in semi-skilled jobs; 21 percent were employed in unskilled occupations; 11 percent were skilled workers, and one percent was employed in professional occupations.
The study further reveals that more than half of the prison inmates in The Bahamas claimed to have been victims of crime themselves.
The data was collected during May and July 2010.
Of the inmates surveyed, 46 percent were in maximum security; 37 percent were in medium security; 10 percent were in minimum security; five percent were from the female prison and another two percent were in the remand center.
The study also shows that 54 percent of the inmates dropped out of school — 48 percent of that group was expelled for infractions such as fighting, bad behaviour, drugs, disrespect for authority or because they simply were not interested in school.
Meanwhile, 31 percent of the respondents said they were abused or mistreated by parents, guardians, other adults, among other people.
Another 49 percent said they witnessed violence in their home.
The type of violence included physical, emotional, sexual and murder. Three percent of the respondents said they witnessed a murder.
The demographic of the sample population included 95 percent males, five percent females and one percent transgender.
Nearly 80 percent said they were single and 12 percent were married. The study shows that 93 percent of the respondents were born in The Bahamas. The remainder were born in Jamaica, Haiti and America.
Researchers said there ought to be further lines of inquiry based on profile data of the economy and crime; restorative justice possibilities; education policy regarding school discipline and gender and crime.
Associate Professor of Law Michael Stevenson, who also presented the research, said too many of the children expelled from school turn to a life of crime.
He said something needs to be done with the disciplinary system at schools.
In addition to Minnis and Stevenson, the research was done by E’Thegra Symonette, Yvette Pintard-Newry, and Tonya Gibson.
The study focused on identifying common characteristics of inmates, including demographics, background, criminal history and involvement, prison culture and society and inmate self perceptions.
By Krystel Rolle
Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter
