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Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 04 2015 (SKNIS): The fight against crime continues to play an important role in St. Kitts and Nevis and this is evident as the establishment of the Criminal Justice Strategic Board (CJSB) which was approved by the Federal Cabinet will be launched on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at the Police Training Complex at 10 a.m., as noted by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris during his monthly press conference on Tuesday, November 03.

The CJSB is designed to bring together on a regular basis, high level personnel from various departments to jointly strategize and direct the implementation of initiatives to drive criminal justice reform in the Federation.

The CJSB is dedicated to a number of safety measures with regards to citizens, residents and visitors alike. They include keeping people safe, reducing and preventing crime, bringing offenders to justice, re-integrating offenders into society at a lower risk of re-offending and utilizing its shared resources efficiently in the Federation’s best interests, with all efforts directed towards improvement of the criminal justice system.

Representation from Police, Prisons, Courts (Office of the Director of Public Prosecution), Probation and Child Protection Services, Youth Justice (New Horizon) Defense Force, Customs, Education, Financial Intelligence Unit and Fire and Rescue Services will make up the CJSB. It will also be comprised of representatives from Nevis who are to be determined by the Office of the Premier. The representatives should be heads of departments or persons of sufficiently high level in the organization who are able to make strategic decisions and commitments for criminal justice reforms on behalf of their respective departments.

At the launch, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris is expected to install the members of the CJSB. In addition, members will be invited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing themselves to the work and responsibilities of the CJSB.

The Honourable Vincent Byron, Attorney General, is expected to assume Chairmanship of the Criminal Justice Strategic Board.