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Caribbean Islands Incidence of Crime
Jamaican national security concerns under the Seaga government
have focused on countering three growing threats: crimes involving
firearms, gunrunning, and narcotics production and trafficking.
Although violent crime had become a major social problem, none of
these phenomena appeared to pose a major threat to Jamaica's
national security in 1987. The government was mainly concerned
about the adverse impact that violent crime against tourists could
have on the tourism industry, on which the island was dependent
economically.
The number of reported crimes, especially crimes of violence
involving firearms, began growing during the 1960s and escalated
sharply in the early 1970s. According to the Planning Institute of
Jamaica, however, in 1986 the number of reported crimes decreased
for the first time in several years, going from 53,066 in 1985 to
49,511 in 1986. Although violent crimes against individuals
declined from 21,123 in 1985 to 19,301 in 1986, reported murders
increased slightly, going from 434 in 1985 to 449 in 1986.
Shootings declined in 1986 by about 100; there were 1,050 reported
cases during the year. The majority of murders in 1986 (46 percent)
resulted from domestic disputes. Other murders in 1986 were
perpetrated under circumstances that included the following: 18.7
percent in association with other crimes such as robberies; 10.9
percent in revenge or reprisals (as compared with 6.9 percent in
1985); and 3.8 percent in drug-related activities (as compared with
2.3 percent in 1985).
Violent confrontations between police and crime suspects were
frequent, and criminals often possessed firearms. Breaches of the
Firearm Act (illegal possession) continued to increase in the early
1980s, from 842 reported cases in 1982 to 1,312 in 1985; incidents
declined to 1,258 in 1986. Security forces recovered more than
2,700 firearms, including 126 M-16 and 7 M-14 assault rifles, in
1977-84.
In the 1980s, violent crime continued to be most intense in the
Kingston-Saint Andrew district, which usually accounted for about
half of all reported cases. In general, law enforcement agencies
did not adequately control crime. Beginning in the late 1970s, mob
killings or lynching of thieves increased, especially in rural
areas. In 1982, 226 cases were reported; prosecution of vigilantes
was rare.
Much of the increased crime, particularly petty theft and
pilferage, was attributed to poverty and unemployment. Gasoline
price rises in January 1985 led to riots that left ten dead and
fifteen shot and wounded. Although Seaga dismissed the protests as
the work of extremists, 53 percent of Jamaicans and 66 percent of
Kingston residents who were polled sympathized with the rioters.
Violent crimes against tourists in the north coast increased
dramatically during the 1986-87 tourist seasons, with most
incidents involving armed robberies.
An increasing number of crimes, including major offenses such
as breaking and entering, larceny, and felonious wounding, were
being committed by juveniles or teenagers (those between the ages
of fourteen and seventeen). The number of juveniles brought before
the courts in 1985 increased by 9 percent to 2,599. Those in need
of care or protection (1,004) comprised the largest group brought
before the courts, whereas those charged with wounding and assault
(571) and larceny (516) comprised the other categories. Some
juveniles were tried in regular courts rather than in juvenile
courts.
Data as of November 1987
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