Jamaica Constabulary Force Hears the Deaf Community

Statement from the Jamaica Constabulary Force:

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and its auxiliaries have the mandate to provide police services to the people of Jamaica. The JCF recognizes that these services require the police to be more responsive and accountable to all groups within the society in an environment where needs and expectations are constantly changing.

The deaf community is one of the groups, which until now, the JCF could not serve effectively did because of inadequate resources. But with the launch of ‘Safe and Sound Ja’, the communication barriers that faced persons in the deaf community when they tried to access police services are being broken down.

‘Safe and Sound JA’ facilitates communication between the police and the deaf community through the implementation of 24-hour interpreting service systems. The program employs certified interpreters who will work on-demand via Zoom. The service has been available at the Half Way Tree Police Station located in St. Andrew and Mandeville Police Station in Manchester since July 2021. 

The service was conceptualized and implemented through the partnership of the National Police Youth Club Council and the Force’s Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB), which oversees the youth club movement in Jamaica.

Sandra Whyte, General Secretary of the National Police Youth Club Council, participated in the official launch of ‘Safe and Sound JA’ on September 29, 2021, at the office of the Commissioner of Police. In her address, she highlighted that “the police report is the single most important element between a victim and justice. It is the first and necessary step towards a matter being admissible in court in the pursuit of justice.” She said before the project launch, deaf persons would have to rely on relatives or friends to communicate on their behalf. This, she said created challenges with court matters due to questions about admissibility.

Superintendent Velma Thomas-Gayle, of the CSSB, shared similar sentiments in her address to the largely virtual audience. She said that it is now time for the JCF and other members of society to work together to ensure the deaf community can be assured of equal access to police services and the wider justice system.