Reduction in murders can be sustained, says criminologist

 

District Constable, criminologist and Jamaica Observer columnist Dr. Jason McKay believes the reduction in murders can be sustained if the Police High Command continues its strategy targeting criminals. 

 

The Jamaica Constabulary Force is reporting that murders are down by over 44 per cent. 

 

Dr. McKay says the continued reduction in the country's murder rate indicates that the strategies utilised by the Police High Command are bearing fruit. He believes the reduction can be sustained.

 

"Well, there's always been a reason for the reduction, and then there's always been a reason for why it goes back up. It is just that a lot of people will look at the drop in homicides and then they'll see the spike, but nobody examines the reason for that spike. But every time there's been a reason. So something would drastically have to change in...the leadership of the JCF for you to see a change in strategy. And I think it's the strategy aided by the new gun bill that is really causing this reduction," reasoned Dr. McKay, who was speaking Tuesday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines. 

 

Meanwhile, political scientist and associate professor at New Jersey City University, Dr. Jermaine McCalpin, has urged the government to continue investing in the capacity of the police force in order to sustain the downward trend in murders. 

 

"If you increase the capacity, then you can continue this downward trajectory in terms of major crimes because 80% of the major crimes, you know, the homicides are committed with a gun. So if you can do intelligence work to stop, you know, like the one that happened earlier on in May; if you can do the kind of work to stop the flow of guns, you can significantly reduce the incidence of murder and the sustainability is based on partnership at the government level and also with the level of the citizenry," he suggested. 

 

Dr. McCalpin was also a guest Tuesday on Beyond the Headlines.