Seventy- Eight (78) members of staff from the  Department of Correctional Services have completed training to conduct electronic COVID-19 screening at our various correctional centres and offices once visitation resumes at our Correctional Centres.

The group will also conduct screening of clients visiting our probation offices as well as staff members and visitors entering our other offices daily.

COVID-19 remains a threat to the daily activities and procedures within the DCS.  We have taken the necessary steps to prevent exposure to our inmate population.

The COVID-19 Screening Programme has been implemented as a proactive approach to aid in the necessary data collection and storage, which will facilitate the pre-screening of all persons interacting with our correctional centres and to assist in any contact tracing if the need arises.

A tablet equipped with a data connection will replace the paper-based system used.  This system will be at all entry points to the DCS, to collect all necessary COVID-19 screening information. This approach will increase our efficiency and effectiveness in data collection and monitoring.

The project was initially launched at the DCS Head Office in Kingston and will now be implemented at all our correctional centres, probation offices and DCS outposts island-wide. These protocols will ensure that the department continues to protect its employees, inmates, wards, contractors, stakeholders, and visitors.