| About Us |
| Aftercare |
| RJ Fund |
| Survey |
| Activities |
| Directory |
| Members |
| Resources |
| Newsletter |
| Contact |
CARIBBEAN UMBRELLA BODY FOR
RESTORATIVE BEHAVIOUR (CURB)
ABOUT US
The Caribbean Umbrella Body for Restorative Behaviour (CURB) is the first and only Caribbean network of non-profit associations working to assist and support criminal offenders, ex-offenders, crime survivors, correctional officers and their respective families as well as alleviate poverty, reduce crime and transform the Caribbean community.
In early 2005, seven leaders (six of whom are ex-prisoners) of independent NGOs engaged in prison ministry in Trinidad and Tobago were led to establish an umbrella organisation to provide institutional strengthening and foster greater networking. The founding Member NGOs of CURB are Alpha Omega Prison Outreach Ministries, Evans Vision and Sound Ministry, National Academy of Business and Computing, New Hope Prison Ministry, Vision on Mission, Transformed Life Ministry and Woman Thou Art Loosed Foundation Lk. 13:12. The leader of each NGO together with a businessman and an Attorney-at-Law/restorative justice advocate comprise the Interim Board of Directors of CURB.
Following months of discussion and planning, CURB was formally registered at the Ministry of Legal Affairs as a non-profit organisation on 3rd May 2005 and embarked upon preliminary work in several areas of institutional strengthening for NGOs, networking, website development and setting up the Restorative Justice Fund to assist crime survivors.
CURB was formally launched on Monday 13th November, 2006 at the Port of Spain City Hall Auditorium during Restorative Justice Week with a historic Restorative Justice Exhibition. We were honoured to have the Honourable Anthony Roberts, then Minister of Social Development, attend and deliver the Feature Address. You can read a copy of the Minister's Speech online. Photos of the event are available Here.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to bring together the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs) within the Caribbean to restore our Caribbean communities to wholeness through the implementation of a more restorative pattern of behaviour which would include activities such as to visit those in prison, support and assist crime survivors, take care of the sick, poor, destitute and encourage all persons to establish a relationship with their Creator.OUR CONCERNS
1. Harsh Sentencing Laws - These have led to a rapid rise in the imprisonment of non-violent offenders, drug addicts and youthful offenders.2. Prison Overcrowding - This has led to poor sanitation and hygiene, rampant disease, homosexuality, gang violence and other degenerative behaviour.
3. Crime Survivors - They are further victimised by the criminal justice system and are in need of support and restoration from the community of which they are a part.
4. Fragmented Communities - They are seemingly powerless to reduce crime, assist crime survivors, ex-prisoners or their families.
5. An Angry, Fatherless Generation - This has arisen in our midst due to increased rates of incarceration of their parents and lack of community intervention to mentor them in a pro-social manner.
OUR FOCUS
1. Reform Sentencing Laws - Such laws ought to ensure that only persons who NEED to be incarcerated are so sentenced and only for such period as is necessary for their transformation.2. Alternatives to Incarceration - These must be expanded and utilised more regularly so that offenders can receive such therapeutic treatment as their case requires and crime survivors can be restored.
3. Community Empowerment - This is needed to help the community heal itself and render needed support to crime survivors, prisoners, ex-prisoners and their respective families.
4. Encourage Pro-Family Policy - Such a policy is required throughout the prison system and should be evident in improved visiting guidelines and facilities which can help prisoners learn how to be better parents and to “parent from prison”.
5. Improve Medical and Mental Health Services - There is a dire need for therapeutic programmes and expanded drug abuse/addiction, alcohol and sex offender treatment in prisons and communities.
6. Provide More Effective Aftercare Programmes - A national programme for aftercare must be implemented and funded by the State in order to successfully reintegrate all ex-prisoners, thereby reducing the rate of re-offending.
To learn how we accomplish our Objectives, please visit our Activities Page.
DONATIONS
The extensive work of CURB requires assistance from members of the general public, the private sector and the public sector. We welcome your DONATIONS of School Supplies, Food Hampers, Toys, Toiletries and other supplies for crime victims and for children of crime victims and of prisoners.We encourage you to Contact Us with your financial or in-kind donations as we work towards the restoration of those whose lives have been adversely affected by crime. If you would like to provide donations of money, please send cheques or postal orders in the name of CURB RJ Fund to CURB, P.O. Box 4945, Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago.