Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security and Peace, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, says the new Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Probation Office in Portmore, St. Catherine, represents a tangible investment in safer, more peaceful communities through rehabilitation and reintegration.
“Today’s ceremony is about strengthening one of the most important, yet often least visible pillars of Jamaica’s justice system. It demonstrates the government’s commitment to modernising correctional services and ensuring that rehabilitation remains at the heart of our approach,” the state minister said.
The DCS Probation Office, located at the Big Buy Plaza, West Trade Way, Portmore, is equipped to meet the growing demand for correctional services in one of Jamaica’s fastest growing urban centres.
It is the first office to be upgraded in Region 1 and provides confidential spaces for counselling, case management and interviews, thereby ensuring dignity and privacy for clients.
A primary feature of the facility is the Department’s first dedicated Play Therapy Room, staffed by a certified Play Therapist. This innovation will provide early therapeutic interventions for children affected by trauma, family conflict, or involvement with the justice system.
“By introducing specialized services such as play therapy, we are strengthening our capacity to support emotional healing and resilience and contribute to better long-term outcomes for children and their families. This is a reminder that rehabilitation is not a one-size-fits-all; it must respond to the unique needs of every individual, especially for our youngest and most vulnerable,” Minister Cuthbert-Flynn affirmed.
The State Minister commended the leadership of the DCS and the dedicated Probation Aftercare Officers for their professionalism and compassion.
“This facility stands as a symbol of our shared commitment to justice that is fair, corrections that are effective and communities that are safer because rehabilitation remains central to our vision,” she said.
She asserted that Probation Aftercare Officers play a critical role in community-based corrections, supervising individuals placed on probation, preparing Social Enquiry Reports for the courts, supporting the Parole Board and helping clients comply while addressing the root causes of offending behaviour.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Corrections, Brigadier (Ret’d) Radgh Mason, stated that the opening of the new facility was more than a festive occasion but “brings the services by the DCS closer to the people we serve” and is a reflection of the steady progress of the Department.
“We are not just cutting a ribbon today, we are strengthening the national security ecosystem,” the Commissioner said, adding that, “probation rehabilitation, reintegration and reducing reoffending, contribute directly to national security”.
The modernised Portmore Probation Office leads the way for other retrofitting works to be undertaken on DCS facilities in Region 1, which serves 1,280 non-custodial offender clients. The opening also follows that of the new St. James Probation Office which was opened in March 2026.
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