Long sentences for drug couriers have proved unsuccessful as a deterrent, do not take into account the individual circumstances of foreign couriers from countries with little or no social welfare system and may be contrary to Human Rights Legislation.

· The recently formed Sentencing Guidelines Council should introduce a new offence of ‘couriering’ and Courts should take into account individual circumstances and the effect upon dependant children.

· The tariff for couriering should be considerably lower than the current tariff.

Whilst many couriers are scared and reluctant to disclose the names of the people who recruited them, others have offered to do this but been told this is not practical. Co-operation is viewed as a valuable service by the Courts and will result in a lesser sentence.

RECOMMENDATIONS

· Customs should be more pro-active in getting women to co-operate in naming the organisers in return for shorter sentences

All of the agencies who were represented at the conference expressed a willingness to work with returning prisoners in a positive and pro-active manner.

· Relevant agencies should co-operate to work in a pro-active manner, setting up a one stop shop to deal with returning prisoners.

The children are an obvious concern to all ‘helping’ agencies who are involved in this issue and the subject was addressed by almost every speaker, however it was also pointed out that the women (and men) who undertake this journey have also suffered and continue to suffer as a result of stigma and discrimination. The children who are left behind are 5 times more likely to offend than those who have a parent living at home, there is no social welfare system to care for these children.

· All of the agencies who are working in this area should aim to raise public awareness and challenge the prejudices and misconceptions about ex-prisoners to enable this group to access support, assistance and employment.

· Everything possible should be done to address the problems of the children who are left behind by mothers serving long sentences.

· There needs to be more data and research about what happens to the children.

Jamaica is now holding many foreign nationals in its own prisons, 39% of the female prison population in Jamaica are foreign. These women suffer similar anxieties and concerns to their Jamaican counterparts in the UK, are often vulnerable and have very little contact with their families.

· A welfare worker should be employed to visit and undertake welfare assistance with these women.

Faith and the Churches play a lead role in Jamaican society, there is much room for community leaders to address problems and encourage self-esteem amongst those families that have experienced the incarceration of a parent or carer.

· The churches should lead a discussion on how we value people.

· There should be a community safety and crime reduction approach toward drug crime.

· Church leaders must lead communities to recognise the worth and contribution of all members of society including those from troubled backgrounds