Ten inmates serving sentences in Jamaican correctional facilities have earned university degrees while incarcerated, marking a milestone in the country’s prison rehabilitation efforts.
According to the Jamaica Observer, the graduates, all Black Jamaicans, received associate and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) during a ceremony on August 13.
Five earned associate degrees and five completed bachelor’s degrees.
The education programme, which began in 2018, is a partnership between Stand Up for Jamaica (SUFJ), UCC, and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).
The pilot project started at St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre with four inmates and one correctional officer before expanding to Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre and South Camp Adult Correctional Centre, the only female correctional facility in the country.
SUFJ Executive Director Carla Gullotta said the achievement reflects the importance of rehabilitation in the justice system.
She noted that providing higher education to inmates required resources such as computers, modems, and e-books, as well as cooperation from UCC and DCS to make computer labs and weekend classes available.
“This is what rehabilitation looks like. If we want to reintegrate people into society, we have to give them the tools to succeed,” Gullotta said.
One of the graduates, who completed his degree with summa cum laude honors, addressed the audience on behalf of his classmates.
“We didn’t just earn degrees, we regained our dignity. It is a resurrection of purpose. This is proof that transformation is possible when there is vision, support, and courage,” he said.
The programme was designed to give inmates academic and professional skills they can use after release. Organizers said it has also helped to restore self-esteem among participants, many of whom entered prison with limited education or job prospects.
Black News reported that while the achievement has been widely celebrated, some graduates have faced challenges in applying for parole. Gullotta said some have been denied parole on the grounds that they need to show more signs of rehabilitation, despite having completed their degrees and contributing to programmes inside the facilities.
The initiative has been described as one of the most significant rehabilitation efforts in Jamaica’s correctional history. It demonstrates that with the right support, inmates can change the direction of their lives and prepare to make positive contributions to society after serving their sentences.
According to SUFJ, the long-term goal is to expand the programme to more correctional centers and offer a wider range of academic disciplines. The organization said it will continue to work with UCC and DCS to ensure that inmates have access to the same quality of education as students outside the prison system.
The graduation ceremony, described by organizers as a “celebration of hope,” brought together officials from SUFJ, UCC, and DCS, as well as families of the inmates. Supporters said the occasion was proof that education can be a key driver of rehabilitation and social reintegration.
This latest group of graduates adds to a growing number of Jamaican inmates who have earned academic qualifications while serving prison terms.
Stakeholders say it is an important example of how investment in prison education can lead to reduced recidivism and improved outcomes for individuals and communities.
By: Joshua Narh