The Caribbean Umbrella Body for Restorative Behaviour (CURB) is a Caribbean network of NGOs working to assist and support crime survivors, prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Click Here for a Flash file about CURB or visit our website to Find Out More.

Vote Now in Caribbean RJ Survey.

In 2007, the findings contained in the report of the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology revealed that restorative justice processes have rated very high internationally in terms of victim satisfaction and have a collateral benefit in several instances to modify offender behaviour.

CURB would like to stimulate discussion in Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean jurisdictions as to the manner in which we in the region should implement restorative justice. Cast your vote in our Online RJ Survey on this important topic. Go to our Online Survey to cast your vote.

Search Caribbean RJ Directory.

Need to find a prison ministry or support service for crime survivors in the Caribbean? Then search the Caribbean RJ Resource Directory which lists various agencies which provide support to crime survivors, prisoners, ex-prisoners and their respective families.

Caribbean RJ Events Calendar.

As our latest initiative, CURB also provides a Caribbean Restorative Justice Events Calendar at our website. This tool will help to network providers of crime victim support, offender support, restorative justice and therapeutic jurisprudence by allowing them to Add their events hosted in the Caribbean for FREE. The calendar is available online Here.

Caribbean RJ Audio Feed.

CURB offers an audio version of our Blog articles and of The Restorative Review for persons "on the go". You can listen to our Blog and this newsletter or download an MP3 file or subscribe to a Podcast from the AudioFeed link on the Newsletter page of our website.

Stop Prison Abuse Blog.

CURB is committed to highlighting and eliminating prison sexual assault and abuse in the Caribbean. We encourage you to visit the Stop Prison Abuse website for more information and subscribe to the Stop Prison Abuse Blog.

Excerpts from the Stop Prison Abuse blog will be included in our monthly newsletters together with news from the restorative justice and criminal justice reform fields. Audio versions of our Stop Prison Abuse project blog posts are available from the News page of the Stop Prison Abuse website.

Basic Counselling Training.

The Rape Crisis Society will provide training in basic counselling for 4 Saturdays in Port of Spain from... (More).

A similar programme is carded for San Fernando at... (More).

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A Review of Restorative Justice Week in Jamaica.

Restorative Justice Week was observed in Jamaica from 2nd to 8th February, 2008 under the theme: 'Restorative Justice - Towards Forgiveness, Healing and Reconciliation'.

The week of observance promoted the philosophy of restorative justice as a humane and holistic approach to conflict resolution.

The Victim Support Unit, Justice Training Institute, the Child Development Agency and the Dispute Resolution Foundation assisted the Jamaican Justice Ministry in this initiative.

Support was also provided by the Canadian International Development Agency and the United Nations Development Programme.

Activities commenced on the 2nd and 3rd February with church services and continued on the 4th and 5th February with youth victims of crime counselling retreats in Portland, St. Catherine and Westmorland.

The week of observance culminated with an international conference on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th February, 2008 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne said that the Government is committed to modernising and transforming the nation's justice system by 2017.

She stated that the implementation of restorative justice will be a vital component of the justice system reform programme.

The Attorney General stressed that the Ministry would be promoting the implementation of restorative justice in the society at large and the justice system, in particular.

Restorative Justice Week activities in Jamaica coincided with Peace Month which runs from 6th February to 16th March, 2008. The latter was declared open on 4th February by the Governor General and is a project of the Violence Prevention Alliance.

Among the activities scheduled for Peace Month is a Mega Peace March, expo and concert in Clarendon on Friday 7th March, 2008.

This event will involve a large number of stakeholders committed to eradicating violence in the national community. These include the Police Department, the Crime Prevention Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Social Development Commission and the National Council for Youth Development.

Jamaica To Develop RJ Policy.

Counselling Survivors and Perpetrators
Of Sexual Assault.

Following the informative and life-changing training session - Introduction to Counselling Survivors and Perpetrators of Sexual Assault and Abuse - which was hosted by CURB during RJ Week 2007, we propose to host a second introductory training session followed by an Advanced Counselling programme during 2008.

Further details will be posted in our eNewsletter and on the Stop Prison Abuse website during the coming months.

CURB Holds Talks With Commissioner of Prisons.

During the month of March, 2008 there will be a meeting of stakeholders from the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service and the NGO community to discuss the way forward in effectively dealing with the issue of prison sexual assault and abuse and the treatment of incarcerated sex offenders... (Read More OR Listen).

TCI Journalist Threatened.

In the wake of her ground-breaking article which exposed physical and sexual abuse of prisoners in the Grand Turk Prison, Turks and Caicos Islands journalist, Gemma Handy, has been threatened with prosecution... (Read More OR Listen).

Update on TCI Prison Abuse Allegations.

Superintendent of the Grand Turk Prison, Peter White, has strongly denied allegations about prisoner abuse behind the prison walls. The TCI Governor announced that two inquiries have been launched into the allegations... (Read More OR Listen).