Correctional and probation officers in Dominica have completed specialized training designed to improve prison management, strengthen rehabilitation services and help individuals make a successful return to society after serving their sentences.
The training is part of a wider initiative involving 10 Caribbean countries, aimed at improving how correctional and probation services work together and manage cases throughout the justice process.
According to a press release from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dominica is the fourth country to complete this phase of the programme, following St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.
The initiative is being delivered through the Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP, alongside the Judicial Strengthening for the Eastern Caribbean (JES-EC) Project, funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by the Justice Education Society of British Columbia.
National correction and probational services were reportedly consulted beforehand to identify areas of priority, allowing participating officers the opportunity to examine current practices, share experience, and adapt information to best suit the circumstances of their respective countries.
The training focuses on four main areas: custodial management, strengthening rehabilitation and reintegration, coordinating case management, and building closer working relationships between correctional and probation services.
UNDP Project Specialist for PACE Justice, Vanessa Untiedt, said the programme recognizes the importance of correctional and probation services within the wider justice system.
“It is important that we look at the justice system as a whole. Prison and probation are an essential part of the justice chain, and the people working in these services face very practical challenges every day. Through this regional training, we want to bring them together, share experiences, and provide practical tools that support their daily work, while strengthening rehabilitation and reintegration across the region.”
A central part of the initiative is recognizing that correctional services do not end when an individual leaves prison. The programme encourages officers to consider individual risks and needs, provide rehabilitation support and coordinate with probation services to help people reintegrate into their communities.
Global Affairs Canada’s Head of Cooperation for the Eastern Caribbean, Jennifer Cooper, emphasized the role of effective justice institutions in promoting regional security and development.
“Regional peace and security is a priority for Canada, and we are proud to support partners working to strengthen justice institutions across the Eastern Caribbean. Effective justice systems uphold the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights, build public confidence and contribute to safer communities. By bringing practitioners together to share expertise and practical solutions, we expect that this initiative will strengthen institutional capacity and support more responsive and effective justice services across the region.”
JES-EC Project Director Lyndel Archibald also highlighted the benefits of bringing justice professionals together to share knowledge and strengthen cooperation.
“Bringing practitioners together fosters a collaborative approach to justice and rehabilitation. This collaboration enhances the capacity of practitioners to work together seamlessly to improve outcomes for individuals and communities, ultimately strengthening opportunities for rehabilitation, successful reintegration and reduced recidivism.”
Although the training in Dominica marks the completion of this joint phase of the PACE Justice and JES-EC partnership, the broader regional correctional training programme will continue until November 2026.
That programme began in Barbados, with additional sessions scheduled for Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Through these activities, the regional partners hope to strengthen correctional practices and improve coordination among custody, rehabilitation, probation, parole and reintegration services, with the wider goal of supporting more effective justice systems and reducing repeat offending across the Caribbean.
