1(876) 922-0021-2 / 967-2781-3
communications@dcs.gov.jm
Employee Email Portal       Government of Jamaica
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
logo
  • Home
  • About
    • Vision & Mission
    • Overview & History
    • Senior Executives
    • Senior Managers
    • Our Commissioners
    • Core Positions
  • Become an Officer
  • Programs & Services
    • Information
      • Custodial Services
      • Juvenile Services
      • Sex Offender Registry
      • Parole
      • Prison Fellowship Jamaica
      • Recidivism
      • Correctional Services Technical Working Group (CSTWG) Report
    • Probation Aftercare
      • Probation Aftercare Services
      • Criminal Justice System & Corrections
      • Community Sentencing Options
      • Probation Officer Roles & Functions
      • Community Service Order
      • Aftercare Programmes
        • Brother for Change
        • Challenger’s Camp
        • Step Out and Strive (SOAS)
        • Substance Misuse Treatment Manual
    • Rehabilitation
      • Rehab Infocus
      • Rehab Programs
      • We Transform
      • Skype Programme
      • Creative Minds
      • Proclamation
      • DRIVE Programme
    • Media
      • Annual Reports
      • Newsletters
      • Our Gallery
      • Articles
      • Brochures
  • Resources
    • Facilities
      • Adult Correctional & Remand Centres
      • Juvenile Correctional & Remand Centres
        • South Camp Juvenile Remand & Correctional Centre
        • Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional Centre
        • Hill Top Juvenile Correctional Centre
        • Metcalfe Street Secure Juvenile Remand Centre
      • Caribbean Search Centre
      • Transport Centre
      • Carl Rattray Staff College
    • Information
      • MIS HelpDesk
      • TOR Correctional Service TWG
      • Research Terms of Reference
      • The Corrections Act
      • The Corrections Act Regulations
      • Visitors Applications Forms
        • School Visit Form
        • Inmates Relatives/friends Form
        • Attorneys/NGO/CGO/Other Groups Form
      • Tribute to Officer
      • Commissioner’s Corner
    • Support Services
      • Human Resource Management
        • Correctional Officer
        • Probation Officer
      • Major Stakeholders
      • Our Chaplins
      • Medical Team
      • Wellness Committee
    • Opportunities
      • Vacancies
      • Tenders/RFP
      • Calendar of Events
        • Upcoming Events
        • Correctional Services Week
        • Family Day
        • Institutional Sports Day
        • Institutional Expo Day
        • In-house Competitions
  • Contact

Blog

Home Press Release COVID-19 Cases Increase in Correctional Institutions

COVID-19 Cases Increase in Correctional Institutions

September 17, 2021Press ReleaseMonique Pryce

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is reporting an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among the inmate/ward population and staff members in its correctional institutions in recent weeks.

Currently, 58 positive inmates/wards have tested positive for the virus while seven have been hospitalized. Additionally, 38 staff members have tested positive and are now in isolation.

The Medical Services Unit continues to work assiduously and has been unrelenting in the fight against the pandemic. Data from the Unit has indicated that since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, 206 inmates/wards and 228 staff members have recovered from the virus. The death count remains at five: two inmates and three officers from the first wave of the virus. Jamaica remains one of the countries with the least amount of cases in its correctional system within the jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the DCS will be implementing additional COVID-19 measures to reduce and prevent the spread of the virus. The measures follow published guidelines from the World Health Organization, the Centres for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Beginning Saturday, September 18, 2021, the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in the first instance will observe no movement initially for seven days and cloth masks will be prohibited. Surgical masks will be distributed to inmates and Officers. The rotation of Officers will also be suspended. They will retain their assigned posts for the period to prevent the spread of the virus.

The DCS will continue to enforce measures previously implemented including temperature checks for all persons entering the institutions, handwashing and sanitization stations along with the provision of thermometers and sanitizing agents at all institutions. The DCS in collaboration with the Public Health Department continues swabbing exercises within the institutions.

Meanwhile, the National Health Fund is providing Personal Protective Equipment for the correctional institutions.

To date, approximately 300 inmates from the adult correctional institutions and more than 300 staff members have been inoculated. The Medical Services Unit continues to collaborate with the Public Health Department to conduct vaccination drives within the facilities.

The leadership of the Department of Correctional Services continues to encourage inmates and staff members to vaccinate against the COVID-19 virus.

Recent Posts

  • Inmates and Juveniles to Receive Additional Psychiatric Care
  • New Jail Management System for DCS
  • Invitation to Bid – Motor Vehicles Service Utility Units
  • Renovation of “Special Block” Retender- Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre.
  • Department of Correctional Services Resumes Non-Contact Visits at Adult Institutions

Upcoming Events

No event found!

Transformational work at the DCS

https://www.dcs.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DCSMinMeet1.mp4
Copyright © 2019 All rights reserved. Department of Correctional Services.

About

Correctional Services in Jamaica is a department under the Ministry of National Security. Other major arms of the Ministry are the Police Force and the Jamaica Defence Force. The Judicial System falls under the Ministry of Justice. The Commissioner of Corrections is the chief executive officer who administers the Correctional programmes on behalf of the Government of Jamaica and reports to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security.

Quick Links

  • Upcoming Events
  • Juvenile Services
  • Probation Aftercare Services
  • Custodial Services
  • Sex Offender Registry
  • Parole
  • Vacancies
  • We Transform

Contacts

5-7 King Street, Kingston, Jamaica
1(876) 922-0021-2 / 967-2781-3
1(876) 922-2574
communications@dcs.gov.jm
Email
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram