The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is now able to administer polygraph tests thanks to the donation of a Polygraph Unit from the United States Embassy.
The Polygraph Unit is fully equipped and will be used to polygraph current staff and prospective staff members. The Unit will become part of the toolkit for the DCS to ensure that the credibility and integrity of all those who desire to join the Department are checked thereby mitigating the threats posed by unscrupulous individuals.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, Deputy Chief of Mission for the United States Embassy Mr. John McIntyre commended the DCS for its fight against corruption and reiterated that the United States Government is committed to continuing the partnership with the DCS.“I want to first commend the Department of Correctional Services for their effort to fight corruption in your institutions. This new unit serves as a tool to ensure the integrity of all correctional officers’ applicants and current correctional officers because it is not just whom you take, but whom you keep. We will continue to strengthen the ability of the Government of Jamaica and its citizens to promote better public transparency, accountability and integrity. I am indeed honoured to make this presentation to the DCS.”
Commissioner of Corrections Lt. Col. (Retired) Gary Rowe welcomed the donation of the Polygraph Unit as a positive step to improving integrity in the organisation.“The Polygraph Unit is a positive step to improving the integrity of the DCS. Anti-corruption is a priority for the DCS and I want to thank the United States Embassy for supporting our thrust to become the Caribbean centre of excellence in correctional management.”
The partnership with the US Government began in 2017 when the first member of the DCS embarked on a rigorous ten-week Polygraph Course at the New England Polygraph Institute in New Hampshire USA. Since then the unit has welcomed three DCS polygraphers.
Today the unit has nine persons working together through an inter-agency partnership with the Department of Correctional Services and the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Since 2018 the Department of Correctional Services has polygraphed over 185 applicants and eliminated more than 30 potentially corrupt recruits or officers.
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