Ministry of the People and Social Development

Maxine Hunte and Patrice Parris Searles

Social Investigations Division

Background

The Study’s Objectives

The Trinidad and Tobago Context

Findings of the Study

Policy Recommendations

Conclusion

Ministry of People and Social Development 2

“Trauma” is both a medical and psychiatric

condition. Medically, trauma refers to a serious or critical bodily injury,

wound, or shock.

Psychiatrically, it refers to an experience that is emotionally

painful, distressful or shocking which often results in lasting

mental and physical effects.

Violent Crime is crime in which the offender

uses or threatens the use of violent force against

the victim.

Ministry of People and Social Development 3

Primary victims – those directly involved in the

critical event .

Secondary victims – those who are in some way

observers of immediate traumatic effects on

primary victims.

Tertiary victims – those removed from the critical

event but who are nonetheless impacted through

encountering a primary or secondary victim.

Ministry of People and Social Development 4

UNICEF estimates 500 million to 1.5 billion

children experience violence annually,

worldwide.

In Latin America and the Caribbean the

estimate is 6 million.

Research suggest children who witness crime

and violence are at risk for behavioral,

physical and psychological problems.

And this often lead to academic failure,

delinquency and adult criminal behavior.Ministry of People and Social Development 5

Studies highlight that the trauma of

victimization may be influenced by several

factors. These include: Age/maturity;

The type of violent event;

The proximity, intensity and frequency of event;

The relationship between the perpetrator and the victim;

The coping mechanism and support system; and

The punishment of the perpetrator

The degree of closure.

Ministry of People and Social Development 6

The needs of secondary victims are often

forgotten due to the intense focus on the

primary victim’s needs.

But secondary victims often require similar

assistance as primary victims .

The trauma of crime upon secondary crime

victims can also impact the healing/rebuilding

process of primary victims.

As such, programmes and policy to assist

secondary child victims should be given

priority.Ministry of People and Social Development 7

To provide a brief situational analysis of the

nature of the problem;

To outline the perspectives and experiences of

secondary child victims of crime, as well as the

views of key stakeholders in victim services;

To identify priorities for interventions, policies

and programmes to reduce the impact of crime

trauma on secondary child victims.

Ministry of People and Social Development 8

Ministry of People and Social Development 9

The MORI (Wave 14) Report, states that crime is

the “single most important issue facing the

Nation”.

In the last decade there has been a dramatic

upsurge in violent crimes largely attributed to a

proliferation of guns, drugs and gangs.

A total of 181,039 serious crimes were reported over

the period 2000 – 2009; representing a 29% increase

in serious crime over the last decade.

Reported cases of murder have steadily increased since

2000. An average of 313 murders are committed each

year, over the last decade.

Ministry of People and Social Development 10

Serious Crimes Reported 2009

Kidnapping 155Murders 506Woundings & shootings 689 Sexual Offences 760Robberies 6050

This represents approx. 21000 SCVs for 2009. National commentators recognize that crime

continues to be under – reported.Ministry of People and Social Development 11

Legislation

Domestic ViolenceAct 1999

Criminal InjuriesCompensation Act2000

Justice ProtectionAct 2000

Children’s Authority

(Amendment) Act

2008

Services

Government Agencies National Family Services

Probation Services

TTPS Victim Support Units

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Civil Society Hotlines - e.g. Childline

Families in Action

Rape Crisis

Operation Salvation

Coalition Against Domestic

Violence

Ministry of People and Social Development 12

Ministry of People and Social Development 13

The interviewed Secondary Child Victims

(SCV) unanimously identified emotional and

psychological descriptors as the main effects

of being exposed to violence/ crime.

“Frightened” or “Scared all the time”

“Depressed”

“Paranoid”

“Worried”

“Angriness”

Another commonly expressed reaction was

the introspection and spiritual contemplation

of the event.

Ministry of People and Social Development 14

The interviewed SCVs also highlighted that in

varied ways their lives and patterns of behavour

had changed.

“I don’t trust nobody”

“Now I quiet, quiet”

“I have a angriness now. I does fight and cuss plenty

and people don’t know why”

Many SCVs do not feel that the “system” really

works for them or their loved ones.

“Talking to people don’t make no difference”

“Counseling? Nah that don’t work”

“Police know who do it and never do nothing”

“I doh pray again...and God let it happen?”

Ministry of People and Social Development 15

The older respondents expressed a strong desire

for revenge and retribution. “I want revenge yes”

“I try all how to find the boy who do that”

“I wanted to get a knife or something and go for them”

Interestingly, the younger SCVs stated that they

were encouraged by their parent or guardian to

pray or talk about it.

The majority of interviewees though, preferred

not to discuss the events with anyone. “I keep my feelings to myself”

“I don’t want people in my business”

Ministry of People and Social Development 16

Insufficient funding to sustain long – term

counseling and advanced psychological

intervention by available agencies.

Insufficient capacity within available service

providers in terms of; the quantity of social workers & counselors

venues and facilities for private counseling

A general lack of Social Housing/ Transition Homes

in Trinidad and Tobago

Ministry of People and Social Development 17

Difficulties locating victims and ensuring

that victims are aware of the availability of

services.

A lack of security for service providers (hot

spot areas).

Limited accessibility by victims to the

available services.

Little or no structured programmes for

SCVs.

18Ministry of People and Social Development

Ministry of People and Social Development 19

Government needs to articulate a holistic,

national approach to Victims’ Support.

Establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee on

Victims’ Support to increase collaboration

and reduce duplication.

Develop specialized community-based

programmes and support systems.

Financially support groups who are already

working in the area of Victims’ Support.

Ministry of People and Social Development 20

Establish a special Sensitization Programme

for members of the protective services.

Strengthen Police support to social workers

in the field.

Conduct community-based victimization

surveys throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Establish a database of victims.

Social housing to accommodate victims and

other persons in need of assistance.

Ministry of People and Social Development 21

T&T has a number of agencies and services for

victims of crime.

Access to these services though are limited due to

capacity, cost and cultural constraints.

Depending upon the community, children are likely to

be exposed to multiple incidences of violence and

crime.

Secondary Child Victims expressed a growing

immunity and apathy to crime and violence.

To truly address victim support the experiences of

primary, secondary and tertiary victims must be

understood.

Ministry of People and Social Development 22

The 2010/ 2011 Budget Presentation specifically

indicated that Government of T&T will: Establish of 4 trauma clinics to treat issues of child abuse and

neglect.

Establish a Victims of Crime Support Programme.

The newly established Ministry of Justice has

responsibility for victims of crime in the areas of

counseling and compensation.

T&T’s second Crime Victimization Survey will be

conducted in 2011.

Ministry of People and Social Development 23

Ministry of People and Social Development 24