The Policy Directorate

The Crime Prevention & Community Safety Unit

This unit ensures that the Ministry’s strategic objectives are securely represented in its crime prevention and community safety programmes and activities. Its main purpose is to devise policies, programmes and strategies that will contribute to the reduction of crimes and improve general community safety in target areas. The unit should also provide analyses and evaluation of programmes with a view to determining efficiency and assessing effectiveness.

The Protective Security Unit

This unit processes application for restricted and banned items permits, entry of non-commercial ships into Jamaica’s territorial waters, and coordinates the security vetting procedure for prospective employees within the Ministry. The Protective Security Unit also assists in formulating policy regarding issues pertaining to drug, small arms, human trafficking, border security, ports security, aerodrome and airport security.

Research and Evaluation Unit

The unit, created as part of the modernization exercise, is intended to provide evaluation and research support for the Ministry’s Programmes and activities. It should inform the development of policies and programmes which support the Ministry’s primary objectives.

Offender Management Unit

The Offender Management Unit operates in tandem with the Department of Correctional Services to manage and institute programmes and policies which will facilitate and enhance the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society. The unit provides guidance to the Minister and conducts periodic evaluations of its programmes.

Border Security and Control Unit

The Border Security Unit manages and oversees all policies, programmes and activities that impact on the control of security measures for our Jamaican borders. It provides policy direction and assessments and facilitates the implementation of activities at the national level.

International Relations Coordination Unit

The unit coordinates activities, programmes and policies that have a bearing on the international or regional community as far as national security matters are concerned. The unit ensures that relevant communiqués involving external stakeholders are disseminated in a timely fashion and coordinated to standard.

Organized Crime and Defence Unit

The organized crime and defence unit provides the Ministry with policy guidance and support in terms of managing decisions, issues and activities around regional and international security and related issued such as terrorism, small arms and human trafficking and their bearing on the national security agenda of the country.