Subject: Social Studies Type of Lesson: Drama, web search, discovery learning

cooperative learning

Grade: 10 CSEC OBJ: Describe the structure of Government

(Section A, # 22)

Term: 2 Unit Number # 1 Government

and Title:

Duration: 70 minutes Week Number: 7

Lesson Number # 24 Role of the Police Service and

and Title: Prison System

Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1) identify the four types of correctional facilities in Jamaica with
examples of each.
2) demonstrate the importance of police force and prison system.
3) describe at least two major problems affecting the Police Service
and the prison system each.
4) anticipate likely outcomes of an ineffective police force and
ineffective prison system.
5) determine the worth of strategies suggested for improving the
police force and the prison system.

Prerequisite Student Knowledge

The student should be familiar with:
1) the importance of the judiciary system in Jamaica.
2) the composition, structure and function of the Judiciary.
3) the structure of the Jamaican Court System.

Important Points

The Prison System

1) The Commissioner of Corrections administers correctional
programmes on behalf of the government and reports to the
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security.
2) Under the 1978 Criminal Justice Reform Act, Community Service
Orders, Suspended Supervision Order, Voluntary Supervision and
Probation Orders are offered as alternatives to incarceration;
3) The Prison System comprises:
a. 7 Adult Correctional Centres

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 i. Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre [for
males] (TSACC) Reception Institution
ii. St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre [for
males] (ST.CACC) Reception Institution
iii. Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre [for
females] (FAACC) Reception Institution
iv. The South Camp Adult Correctional Centre
(SCACC)
v. Tamarind Farm Correctional Centre [for males]
(TFACC)
vi. Richmond Farm Correctional Centre [for males]
(RFACC)
vii. New Broughton Sunset Adult Correctional
Centre [senior males] (NBSACC)
b. 1 Adult Remand Centre
i. Horizon Adult Remand Centre [for males and
females] (HARC).
c. 4 Juvenile Centres
i. Hill Top (Boys)
ii. Armadale (Girls) currently at Diamond Crest
Alligator Pond [2009]
iii. Rio Cobre (Boys)
iv. St. Andrew Remand (Boys)

d. 17 Community Service Offices (Probation Offices)

Role of the Prison System

4) The prison system:
a. Deters or dissuades criminal activity by punishing the
same
b. Reforms prisoners via counselling, transmission of
appropriate values and attitudes as well as education
and training;
c. Protects victims and the rest of the society from
criminals;
d. Instils confidence in the judicial system
e. Administers justice
Functions of the Police
5) The roles of the police are to:
a. Protect life and property
b. Prevent, detect and investigate crimes
c. Apprehend and interrogate suspects
d. Preserve peace and maintain order
e. Enforce laws (traffic, parking)
f. Investigate accidents
6) The police also aid the courts by:

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 a. Investigating criminal activity; bringing suspects to
trial, executing warrants to ensure that court
appointments are kept; collecting, recording, preserving
evidence for cases and providing witnesses; compiling
and supplying criminal records used to influence
sentences; acting as court prosecutors; protecting
witnesses; and maintaining order and security during
court sessions.

Key Terms

Police Police Force Prison

Social Order

Challenge Areas
http://www.jcf.gov.jm/community-policing
http://usaid-comet.org/reports/Entire%20CP%20Manual.pdf
1. Read the web pages linked above;
2. With the aid of additional sources, read and make notes on the
aim/goal of and strategies for Community Policing;
3. Guided by the information gathered, evaluate the outline for
community policing offered by the Jamaica Constabulary
Force. Bear in mind:
a. The major crimes affecting our communities;
b. The general attitudes of the public towards the police;
and
c. Weaknesses of the Jamaica Constabulary force.
4. Make recommendations to the JCF for improving their
community policing efforts.

Equipment/Materials Needed
Computer with internet connectivity and a PDF reader, multimedia
projector

Note to Teacher
This lesson will entertain quite a bit of controversy. This means that
extra attention must be paid to class control as well as to the attitudes
and values displayed by the students.

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Teachers Lesson Notes

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Introduction
1) Introductory Activity
What do we know about the police?

Figure 24.1:

https://www.decal-
orations.com/images/graphics/j/ja/jamaica_constabulary_fo
rce.png

a. Project this image on the board using the multimedia

projector. Ask the students if they know what the crest
represents or means.
i. What do the words on the crest (Utroque Serve)
mean?
Expected answer: The words mean Serving all
Sides.
ii. With what organization is it associated?
Expected answer: The term is associated with the
Jamaica Constabulary Force.
iii. What do you know about the associated
organization?

b. It should be established that the organization in question is

the Jamaican Constabulary Force. Now show the students
the mission statement of the JCF.

We serve, we protect, we reassure with courtesy,

integrity and proper respect for the rights of all
http://www.jcf.gov.jm/mission-statment

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 c. You can also encourage the students to visit the page
address copied below the statement. It is the official
website of the JCF.

d. Now ask the students the questions that follow and discuss
their answers.
i. What do you think is entailed in:
1. Serving,
2. Protecting, and
3. Reassuring?
Expected answer:
1. Serving is a broad concept which amounts to
simply helping people in their daily lives. It
ranges from helping children and the elderly
to cross the street to helping to settling
disputes in a family or community.
2. Protecting involves reducing and or
eliminating crimes by preventing and
helping with the punishment and
rehabilitation of criminals. They protect life
and property of citizens.
3. Reassuring results from the performance of
the tasks above well. By engendering
confidence and trust in them and their ability
to serve and protect well and with integrity

ii. To what extent would you say the job is being done
with integrity and respect for the rights of all.
iii. The Latin translation of utroque speaks to serving
all sides. What does this mean for our police force?
iv. Give some examples of the JCF protecting, serving
and reassuring well.

2) Is prison serious business?

a. At this point, note that the police work along with the
prison system of the country. Like the police, the prison
system tends to have a negative perception in the publics
eyes.

b. Direct the students to the links below. You may ask the
related questions after watching each video.

Video # 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC7N8k9GXh8
Video 1

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 i. What are some of the things implied about the
police in the video?
Expected answer: Their efforts can never be
adequate (they cant stop the crime).
ii. What are some of the things implied about the
prison system in the video?
Expected answer: Of the prison system it is noted
that security is limited. Rehabilitation is limited as
inmates remain in contact with the social
atmosphere from which they came. Also, visitors
are able to smuggle contraband into the prisons.

Video # 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7oGMMx1aWE
Video 2
iii. What is the point being made in this clip?
Expected answer: The idea is that help is needed to
create and sponsor rehabilitation programmes for
inmates (who need the opportunity)
iv. What does the clip tell us about the prison system?
Expected answer: It tells us that there is some
attempt at rehabilitation or at least keeping inmates
occupied. The inmates are also uniformed which is
not the norm in other prison systems. There is very
little stripping off of the old person to facilitate
resocialization for the inmate.
v. How useful do you think a music programme is for
rehabilitating prisoners?

3) What are the prison system and the police force?

a. Direct the students to the following web pages to examine
the definitions of the terms.
i. Police force
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/police

http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/police%20force
Expected answer: A trained organised body of
persons vested with the authority to maintain
peace and order; to prevent and detect crime and
to enforce the law.
ii. Prison
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/prison

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 http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/prison
Expected answer: A place of confinement or
restraint to hold persons convicted of crimes and
to facilitate the prevention of further crimes, the
rehabilitation or resocialization of the inmate.

Place the students into four working groups for the

remainder of the lesson.

Body of Lesson
1) Why do we need a police force?

Figure 24.2: Functions of the Police

Notes

The pictures in
Figure 24.2 are
also included in
the accompanying
PowerPoint
presentations.
This will allow you
to look at the
pictures
individually.

See Side Notes and PowerPoint slides 10 to 13

a. Project the pictures and ask the students to identify the

function of the police that each represents.
i. As the answers are discussed, encourage the
students to record the information in their
notebooks.
ii. Ask the students to identify other functions of the
police.
Expected answer: Functions include:
1. Recording data regarding criminals or suspected
criminals
2. Arrest and holding of suspected criminals
3. Regulating traffic
4. Investigating crime scenes
5. Aiding in court proceedings; ensure witnesses
and accused persons are brought to court
sessions

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 6. Protecting witnesses
7. Keeping the peace

b. Now direct the students to the website below. Guide their

exploration of the website by doing the search on your own
computer and projecting your activities for the students to
see.
http://www.jcf.gov.jm/

c. At this website they will compare their answers to the

information given on the website. Encourage them to add
any roles that were not yet included to their list.
Expected answers: See Important Points for a complete
list of the functions/roles

d. Now instruct the students to rank the functions of the police

in terms of importance (with 1 indicating highest ranking).
i. Entertain but monitor discussion here as the
students justify their rankings of the various
functions. This will allow them to value the roles of
the police in their communities and society.
ii. The rankings may be done individually and
discussed collectively, or done collectively via a
voting exercise.
e. Allow students some time to begin a PowerPoint
presentation in which they will name and briefly explain
the function each picture represents. They may use Google
images to locate additional pictures if necessary.

2) How does the prison system help the government to meet the
needs of the society?

a. Project the picture in Figure 24.2 to the students again and

instruct them to note how the pictures were put together to
give information.

b. Now inform them that they will be doing something similar

using Microsoft office, a picture manager or windows live
movie maker. Using Google Images they will find images
that reflect the functions of the prison system. They may
also use bitstrips.com to create images which might be
difficult to find.

c. Write a list of the functions of the prison system on the

board for the students. Have them discuss them before they

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 locate the pictures to match these functions. (See functions
noted under Important Points.)

d. Periodically visit the students work areas to ascertain how

well they understand the functions. Encourage them to
supplement their discussion with information from their
text books.

e. Now allow the students to make their presentations.

Collectively evaluate the content for accuracy as well as
creativity.

f. Allow the students to add the image they created and brief
explanations of each function to their PowerPoint
presentations.

Expected responses: Students should understand clearly

that the police force is very important as it helps society to
meet its need for order. Social order is critical for the
society to function. In the absence of social order, society is
unpredictable and is most likely unproductive. People
become uncertain and unsafe and begin to behave
accordingly.

3) How can we tackle the shortcomings in our police force and

prison system?

a. Instruct the students that in their groups they will examine

some of the shortcomings in our police force or prison
system, and using drama or any other creative medium,
illustrate the effects of selected weaknesses and proposed
solutions to the problems.
i. Both groups one and two will examine the
weaknesses in the Police Force;
ii. Both Groups three and four will examine the
problems in the prison system;
iii. All groups will add the information they uncover to
their PowerPoint presentations detailing at least
three of the problems identified in the assigned
system.
b. The groups will prepare drama presentations based on one
weakness in the assigned system and their proposal for
dealing with the problem.
Police:
http://jamaica-
gleaner.com/gleaner/20120309/cleisure/cleisure2.html

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 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Balancing-the-
police-and-the-people_11009623
http://go-
jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=35745http://www.ja
maicaobserver.com/news/Former-police-commandant-
found-guilty-on-sex-charge_11888781
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/JCF-needs-money-
-resources--updated-legislation_10997282 (Letter to the
Editor)
Possible responses: Weaknesses in the police force:
1. High rates of police killings (should be less
as they are not allowed to use excessive
force and should aim to arrest and bring to
justice rather than kill).
2. Frequent almost entrenched use of the JDF
in police operations
3. Weak system of checks and balances in the
force; difficulty bringing corrupt police to
justice
4. Limited resources
5. Outdated technology, methods and strategies
6. Shortage of police officers
7. Allegations of police abuse of citizens;
results in lack of trust in or fear of the police
Many therefore do not cooperate with the
police.
Prison system
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vCzXXxJmeg&fea
ture=related
http://jamaica-
gleaner.com/gleaner/20120205/lead/lead3.html
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/HIV-positive-
inmates-say-they-are-neglected-in-prison_9090443
http://jamaica-
gleaner.com/gleaner/20120318/lead/lead22.html

Also consider the websites used in the introductory

activity.
Possible responses: Weaknesses in the Prison System:
1. Allegations of abuse of prisoners
2. Poor conditions little food, limited water
(allegations)
3. New prison space, better designed prisons in
more isolated locations needed
4. Corrupt correctional officers

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 5. Allegations of sexual abuse
AIDS/HIV; alleged neglect of affected
persons

c. After clarifying the instructions, direct the students to the

various websites for their research. Periodically determine
the students progress and ensure that they are correctly
identifying the issues and complete their research in the
time allotted. Ensure that the readings are delegated to
different members of each group and that the information is
discussed among all group members.
i. After they have finished reading they should be
directed to creating presentations. A PowerPoint
presentation and or a collage of captioned pictures
are recommended as formats that can be easily
used.
ii. Again, check the content and style of the students
work periodically primarily for accuracy before
their presentations are made.

d. Next, give the students time to prepare their drama pieces.

Guide them in selecting the problem or subject of their
piece in order to avoid repetition. Also monitor the
students here but leave creative control up to them. Inform
them that the normal class rules apply (for example,
acceptable language).

Closure
In Class Assignment
1) At this point, allow the students to make their presentations; each
group should present its PowerPoint/collage followed by their
drama/skit.
2) After each group presents ask the students questions to determine
what they have learned from the presentations. Some questions are
suggested below:
a. What are the main problems highlighted?
b. What are the main causes of the problem highlighted in
the skit?
c. How practical is the proposed solution seen in the skit?
d. What additional suggestions van we consider in order to
solve the identified problem?

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Supplemental
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) Review the power point presentations shared in the lesson. With
the aid of additional information, write a newspaper article entitled
Jamaica: There is a problem!

In this article, highlight the importance of social order and explain

the roles of the prison system and the police in maintaining social
order. Next highlight the difficulties resulting from one weakness
in our police force and one weakness in our prison system.
Additionally, make one suggestion for addressing each difficulty
highlighted in the article.

Glossary of Terms

Police Trained individuals employed to the state to

preserve order.

Police Force The body or organization of police. In Jamaica

its purpose is to serve, protect and reassure.

Prison Simply put, this is an institution for the

confinement and reformation or rehabilitation of
law breakers.

Order A situation in which most members of society

conform to the rules and work together.

CSEC (type) Questions

1)
a. Describe ONE role of the police in your countrys
prison system. 2 marks
b. Describe ONE role of the police in your countrys court
system. 2 marks
c. Explain two reasons imprisonment or incarceration
might not be the best type of sentence for a first time
offender involved in a petty crime. 4 marks
d. Suggest THREE strategies that the government could
use to enhance the publics faith in either the prison
system OR the police force in your country. 6 marks
e. Explain why each f the strategies suggested above will
work. 6 marks
Total 20 marks

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Recommended Materials
http://www.jcf.gov.jm/
http://www.caribbeancourtofjustice.org/
http://www.jcpc.gov.uk/about/judicial-committe.html
http://www.dcsj.net/

Bibliography
Brathwaite, S., Reynolds, P. (2004). Social Studies CSEC self study
and Distance Learning. Caribbean Examinations Council

Ruddock, L. C. and Robinson-Glanville, S. (1977). New Civics for

Young Jamaicans. Jamaica, Carlong Publishers.

Sandy, M. C., Grayson, S. C. (2004). Social Studies Essentials with

SBA, Study Guide and Exercises. Kingston: Carlong Publishers

Source:

Figure 24.2 Functions of the Police

http://www.crookedstreetpress.com/wp-content/uploads/police-line-
uphgih.jpg
http://www.toonpool.com/user/3319/files/withdrawal_447675.jpg
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSGM3ls9G0hWzsTyyggU
klEF-o_-y0PAuYKCjB1o5vxzxLRaXsj_A
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxm7trzMD4zJl13rPEzw
zgziYHzvRytWxKrm7mNJFoQ4pY6iCuKQ
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQyp6e0fXddJPIg7Gfthbh
aDAOc5Wf_1qpJ3Iy4WjkNh14WXzrCjQ
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbWWLB7j-S1iz-
c9yE8nqFAf6MRj0j_nXEkvccBMXa1-RD7-gX
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/amc0254l.jpg - Please create a
similar image to replace this one.

Web site used in this Lesson

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