Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe (centre) speaking at the relaunch of the programme on Friday. Photo: Tanya Smith-Cartwright
By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT
tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of National Security has announced the relaunch of its Shock Treatment youth intervention programme, which officials allege was shelved for no reason by the Minnis Administration, “leaving troubled children out in the cold”.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, QC, made the announcement on Friday at a press conference at his ministry.
The Ministry of National Security launched the Project Safe initiative on June 8, 2014. This initiative was a part of the Christie Administration’s drive to reduce the level of violent crimes in young people. The Shock Treatment programme was among the list of initiatives in the plan.
Shock Treatment was designed as an intervention programme to target young men who were susceptible to gang activities and other behaviour that would eventually lead to them becoming menaces to society.
“Sadly, this programme was halted by the Minnis Administration with no true reason as to why,” Mr Munroe said. “Hundreds of mothers and families eager to get some kind of assistance with troubled children were left out in the cold. The focus was on arresting the criminal rather than preventing a young man or woman from becoming one.
“It was a mistake that has made a lasting negative impact on our country’s fight against crime and violence. In the last few years, we have seen violent criminal behaviour by young people that is beyond shocking.
“Sadly, in the last five years, several of the boys we attempted to save with the original iteration of Shock Treatment were lost to violent crime.”
Once again Carlos Reid is set to head the programme which, as in the past, will have a reality TV series attached to it produced by Andrew Burrows.
Mr Munroe explained the format of the intervention programme. He said, “That is why we must do something and do something impactful. It is, therefore, my pleasure to announce that the Ministry of National Security will be relaunching the Shock Treatment programme and television show in January of 2022. The original agencies are once again steering the programme under the direction of Mr Carlos Reid.
“The programme enlisted five of the entities under the portfolio of National Security at that time: the Citizen Security Unit of the Ministry of National Security, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Bahamas Department of Corrections and the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.
“The programme was designed to create a shocking experience for the participants who were prone to living a life that glorified all things wrong and violent in our society. They would be exposed to what life was like in the hands of the law at every step of our criminal justice system.”
In this programme, troubled youth get to experience what happens when people run afoul of the law. They enter the programme at a police station and over the course of a week they experience being interviewed by police detectives, being in a holding cell, being restrained and their movements managed by the police.
They are exposed to the realities of prison life and are also put under the supervision of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
Mr Munroe said that at every step of the way, there was a concerted effort to shock these children into understanding the consequences of the choices they make. “It was not all shock, however,” he said. “They were exposed to the power of positive choices too and also to alternative options for a better life.
“This programme was documented on video and presented to the public as a groundbreaking reality television series on the ZNS Network also called Shock Treatment. The popularity of this programme helped to propel the message that the limited size of the cohorts could not.
“The government was serious about its commitment to the fight to prevent a lost generation of killers, robbers, rapists and career criminals from happening. We saw a direct correlation between the efforts to prevent young men from becoming criminals and the eventual outcome of crimes.”
Mr Munroe said this time around, there will be a more streamlined and targeted approach in order to tackle the problem being faced.
He is encouraging parents and guardians of young men and women who are presenting challenges in the home, at school or may appear to be headed toward a life of crime to contact the Shock Treatment Secretariat in order to enroll their child into the programme. They can be as young as 10 years old.
The numbers for the Secretariat are: (242) 601-4842 and (242) 601-4360.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 11 months ago
Intervention is the solution. They may want to look at the intervention methodology. Exposing them to more violence and verbal abuse.... not sure
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 11 months ago
To be clear. I think their "intervention" is a good thing. Im not totally sold on the way they're doing it. Id like to see them do as @John suggests and look at the success of other intervention type programs with the stated approach versus alternative approaches.
You know what works? Tending animals, especially horses. I think because it gives you something to express "real" love to. And love is the answer
John 2 years, 11 months ago
Obviously these individuals Wayne Munroe and Carlos Reid are living in the dark ages. Lost to modern times. Studies have shown that these shock treatment programs do more harm than good to young individuals, especially when they expose them to the crime element ) prisons and prisoners in that setting. In fact some of these ‘shock treatment programs’ were specifically targeting young, Black youth with the intention of making them comfortable around criminals and the prison environment. Boot Camps, on the other hand, have shown to be effective in straightening out troubled youth, once they are sterile of the ‘shock treatment’ and understand that goals will not always be achievable in the short term, and the program must involve a certain degree of counseling. There may be a number of underl factors that cause youth, to act out and misbehave and the child, him or herself, may be the victim of someone’s else’s misbehavior. There has to be a balance between rewards and positive reinforcements and punishment. Shock treatment should totally off the table or moderate. Over 90 percent of the world’s population go through life not seeing the inside of a prison or coming in contact with a prisoner. And the old people always tell young folk to ‘stay away from the police and the courts.’
Future 2 years, 11 months ago
PLP CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMME: Step 1- announce that we have a great plan, but keep it a secret. STEP 2 -
Future 2 years, 11 months ago
FNM CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMME: Step 1 - announce that we have a fantastic plan but keep it a secret. STEP 2 -
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 11 months ago
lol
Future 2 years, 11 months ago
Can somebody come up with a real plan that has steps to the plan and dates to those steps please?
ThisIsOurs 2 years, 11 months ago
ok
KapunkleUp 2 years, 11 months ago
This is like beating the hell out of you in order to teach you not get into fights. Just like building more prisons does not reduce crime. Positive programs are needed. Expand and build on projects like Junior Achievement.
empathy 2 years, 11 months ago
Interesting; now if we can upgrade our educational system to be good or great to truly give our young women & men opportunities then we’ll be ‘sayin sum ting’.
John 2 years, 11 months ago
Except for being overwhelmed with females, the education system is on pervwith most countries in the region. This is proven by students who go off to college in the US, Canada and the UK. They or on the level with students from other countries around the world. And many excel beyond the average. The problem is that a number of students are not academically inclined or have no interest in certain subjects. These are what are called industrial students. They want to work with their hands and do practical stuff. Technology even. But the schools don’t cater to them. And because of their lack of interest their grades are low. They start to get into mischief and become a distraction to the other students. Eventually they may get into drugs, gangs and crime. They did not fail education. The education system failed them. And a positive male presence in the education system is essential if only a role model for the boys who come from fatherless homes.
moncurcool 2 years, 11 months ago
So let me get this right. Th plan is to treat people like criminals hoping it would shock them not to be criminals?
The principal who the movie Lean On Me was made around made the salient point when trying to turn his school around. If you treat children like animals then they will act like animals.
Maybe if we treat young men like men and maybe if we develop a program for them where during the summers as a start they can be gainfully employed by companies. Having a job and then being mentored, that could lead to changing them.
Exposing them to the criminal world and hoping they change? WOW.
themessenger 2 years, 11 months ago
It all starts with education without which they can achieve little. First they need to find a way to motivate our young people to not only stay in school but to make the most of whatever is on offer. Not getting pregnant once a year would also go a long way to giving them a leg up out of poverty rather than getting a leg over.
moncurcool 2 years, 11 months ago
You are correct, education is key. True. Yet, are we willing to move from the status quo of just teaching children to take a test and move them to actually educating and having them think for themselves?
BONEFISH 2 years, 11 months ago
Embarrassing and humilating teenagers and children on tv is not the best method. You need real programs .
Programs like remedial education, literacy and numeracy programs. Skills training, parenting classes and family enrichment programs. Also sex education classes. Programs to renew the family structure and also to reduce the disintergration of communities.
John 2 years, 11 months ago
Not too long ago in America, some were out to prove that Black students did not have the same learning skills and capabilities of their white counterparts. The argument was that re-inter grating American schools would be a disadvantage to white students because the black students, mostly from the inner city, would hold them back. Well it was found that while the white kids were fed balanced meals for breakfast and lunch, the Black kids were fed meals high in salt and sugary drinks. The Black kids were also fed drinks containing # 2 red dye and other substances, known to inhibiting the learning process. So being loaded with salt and sugar, the Black kids became hyper active and many were eventually diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and were prescribed the medication Ritalin. This made the situation even worse as the students eventually started to present with sleep disorders, loss of appetite and other side effects of the medication. By their early teens, many of the students started using and abusing other drugs and many were hardcore drug addicts by their early 20’s. Some turned to a life of crime to support their drug habits and others became homeless.
M0J0 2 years, 11 months ago
I think its best to embarrass them before they embarrass their families. It is only wise to take heed of warning before you end up there.
John 1 year, 5 months ago
Wayne Munroe and Carlos Reid and those who support this ‘Shock Treatment’ nanny have to be the most uninformed, unprepared, retards on the planet. SHock Treatment, along with ‘Bait Car’ and a Cops and a number of other TV programs were designed and specifically targeted bay Black and minority populations, not to prevent young children going to jail, or women fighting for child support or claiming three, four, even five men may could have been the father oof their baby. They were making mockery of Black and minority communities. Just like the promoters took over rap music and used it to promote gun violence and drug and alcohol use and having children with different baby mammas, and going to jail or sleeping with your friends girlfriend or even wife. If a child can’t go onto the prison grounds under normal circumstances to visit even his father if he is incarcerated, why take them there otherwise? And abuse them otherwise. The old folk tell young children stay outta the police way and far away from the courts and from jail. The goal is to keep young men away from there, not familiarize gem to it. And same for verbal abuse. Officers abusing young men may make a great tv show, but does it help anything? Why not assign defense force and police officers to schools known for troublesome youth, not in the capacity of officers but mentors, to interact and serve as role models. Hold classes with young men, especially. Once or twice a week
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