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 in CURB RJ Poll

CURB would like to stimulate discussion among Caribbean nationals as to the manner in which we should implement restorative justice.

Click Here to cast your vote in our Online Poll and share your perspective on this important topic which is able to improve victim satisfaction and reduce crime and re-offending.

CURB To Tackle Prison Sexual Abuse

CURB has set its sights on the various institutions in Trinidad and Tobago which accommodate juvenile and adult offenders to highlight the incidences of sexual and other abuses against the inmates by staff and other inmates.

Since March 2007, CURB has been periodically exposing the abuses and lobbying for systemic changes to prevent their recurrence. Our efforts will culminate in November 2007 when we observe Restorative Justice Week with the theme "Not Part of the Sentence". Click Here for a Flash file about stopping Prison Sexual Abuse.

Community Focused Groups To Meet on July 7

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Website | RJ Poll | Blog | Photos | Resources

• In the R.J. Spotlight
• Grenada Coup Leaders Told To Make Amends
• Family Reconciliation for Jailed Fathers
• RJ Critical for Jamaican Prisons
• RJ Featured in Social Workers Conference
• Mediation in the Criminal Justice System
• And Much More Caribbean R.J. News!

R.J. Pioneers Call For Victim Focus

A major conference on restorative justice was held from Sunday 24th June, 2007 to Wednesday 27th June, 2007 at Schreiner University, Kerrville, Texas, in the USA. More than 200 persons from across the United States as well as from Canada, Australia, India, and Europe signed up to participate in this first-ever national conference on restorative justice.

Among the key speakers was restorative justice pioneer Dr. Howard Zehr whose presentation on 24th June, 2007 focused on The Promise and Challenges of Restorative Justice for Victims. Dr. Zehr emphasised that restorative justice must remain a victim driven process, not just for the benefit of the offender. He said that victims' experiences are central to justice and warned that the failure to make victims whole contributes to future crimes, because frequently victims later victimize others when they have no other outlets.

On Monday 25th June, 2007 Dr. Mark Umbreit focused on Restorative Justice in the 21st Century. In seeking to correct some misconceptions about restorative justice, Dr. Umbreit emphasised that Restorative justice is a philosophy, not a program - whether that program is victim-offender mediation, sentencing circles, or offender rehabilitation.

Umbreit declared that the restorative justice movement is in danger of losing its soul when it fails to include victims in planning some so-called RJ programs. He emphasised that Restorative Justice is always victim driven; while it's a broad set of principles, the centrality of victims is at the core.

CURB wishes to encourage the governments of Caribbean territories to keep these key principles in focus. A clear appreciation of what is and is NOT restorative justice will prevent them from claiming to be implementing restorative justice initiatives when they are simply applying offender rehabilitation programs as part of penal reform policies.

After several days of hearing evidence, victim impact statements and legal arguments, a High Court judge in Grenada ordered the immediate release this week of three of 13 imprisoned leaders of the 1983 coup that led to US invasion of Grenada.

In delivering his judgement, Justice Bell encouraged the prisoners to collaborate to devise a means whereby they can make amends to the family members of their murder victims who had received no compensation for the loss of their loved ones more than 20 years ago...Read Full Article

On Saturday 16th June, 2007 Prison Fellowship of Trinidad and Tobago (PFTT) held its Fathers Day reconciliation activities organised for inmates at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP), Golden Grove, Arouca.

CURB applauds the initiative to reconcile inmates with their secondary victims - family members - who pay a high price when their loved ones are incarcerated...Read Full Article

Speaking at the recently convened Restorative Justice Forum in Kingston, Jamaica, the Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF), Donna Parchment, says it is important for restorative justice programmes to be installed in Jamaican prisons to rehabilitate inmates, especially those who are serving shorter sentences.

She went on to describe restorative justice as a critical component to enhance the re-entry into society of such prisoners...Read Full Article

The University of the West Indies held its Eighth Biennial Conference of Caribbean and International Social Work Educators from 25th to 29th June, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Thursday 28th June was set aside as Conflict Resolution Day...Read Full Article

Ricky Rahim, an Attorney at Law of some 13 years standing at the Bar who spent five years as a State Counsel at the office of The Director of Public Prosecutions, has authored a paper on Mediation in Criminal Law in Trinidad and Tobago.

In Mr. Rahim's view, there remains in place a system of criminal trial that ignores in large measure the reality of human frailty and the societal benefits to be derived from the basic tenets of acceptance and forgiveness... Read Full Article