'Juvenile crime is indeed on the rise'- Security & Justice Advisor
"Juvenile crime is indeed on the rise. The data from 2022 to 2025 will show you that,” Security and Justice Advisor, Mrs Olva McKenzie-Agard revealed.
There were 4 juvenile-related crimes in 2022, while so far in 2025, there were twenty. As it relates to gun crimes in 2022, there were 7, and as of mid-2025, there were 3.
“It went down in 2025, as of mid-2025, but 100 per cent of those cases involved a firearm.”
We all want safety
Mrs McKenzie-Agard also confirmed that incidents occurring within the school system that lead to suspensions are increasing.
She added that it must be noted that His Majesty’s Prison is overcrowded.
“In fact, we have a 445 per 100,000 rate prison population. Naturally, as citizens, we are concerned.”
She said in every society, the same thing is needed, and that is safety.
“We want our families to be secure, to know that the neighbourhoods within which we live are safe; and when harm happens, we want it to be addressed.”
Restorative Justice
Mrs McKenzie-Agard said some of the safest countries in the world have prison population rates that are much lower than the VI, though their population is higher, through restorative justice.
These countries have accomplished being safe and have a lower incarceration rate due to restorative justice. This, she said, is not a new term, although it may be new to some in the Territory, and there is a Restorative Justice Officer at the prison.
The power of dialogue is used in restorative justice by bringing the victim, the offender and their communities together to seek to repair the harm caused.
“Through this process, the victim is given a voice, the offender is held accountable, the harm is repaired, the community’s trust is rebuilt, and the offender is successfully reintegrated within the community.”
Therefore, restorative justice is both a prevention mechanism and an intervention, Mrs McKenzie-Agard stated.
“Restorative Justice is different, it asks you first what has happened, who has been hurt, what are their needs and whose obligation it is to meet those needs?” she explained.
This process has proven to be successful, Mrs McKenzie-Agard added, sharing that as it relates to education, a 2022 study showed that restorative justice programmes led to a 66 per cent reduction in suspensions.
She also said that two studies, undertaken in 2019, showed a 67 per cent reduction in recidivism.
The three-day summit is being held under the theme ‘Our Virgin Island: Safe Communities, Prosperous Territory’ and will conclude today.
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5 Responses to “'Juvenile crime is indeed on the rise'- Security & Justice Advisor”
The anti-social behaviour of those prisoners may have stemmed from being labelled dumb and stupid from primary school onwards.
I was more fortunate. In the 1950's, even though I always came bottom of the class in academic subjects, my teachers realised that my talents lay elsewhere. Rather than labelling me dumb and stupid, they encouraged my creative potential.
Incidentally, as I was writing this comment, my initial spelling of ''dumb'' had the online spell check baffled.
My video on the importance of art and creativity in schools is relevant to this issue. It can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEN2bpSbwzI&t=5s
save deh youths
there is a serious obsession amongst the youths towards criminal life, gangsta life, sex, drugs, nightlife , party life, jueve life, violence, dancehall music with lyrics about sex,violence and drugs, weed, rum, dressing like thugs, dressing like prostitutes, anti police despite having little to no interraction with police and youths etc etc
thats why the money boyz gang popped up ....................that lifestyle is seen as popular and positive amonths the young males and young females so if you not a part of any of those things then you lame. you not fitting in etc
festival time reinforce this again with the blatant use of weed, bringing dancehall artist and local artist and jam band artist that promotes sex,drugs,rum,gangs,violence, fast life, party life, night life etc
we need bring back morals and principals.
we need to show the harsh consequneces of those kinda things stds,hiv,drug overdose, drug addicts, gang violence, dying young , single parents, unamrried, acholoholics........ i remeber i was small in school them use to bring acholoholics to talk to use and show us what happened to them after becoming acholoholics...it made think twice about drinking.... now i dont even know wa going on in them schools. kids forming gangs and trying to bring guns and drugs to school etc
we need to shun this kinda life
make them feel lame and dum for following that kinda lifestyle. youths are social they will follow where the crowd goes