Crime in Jamaica

Some areas of Jamaica, particularly cities such as Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town, experience high levels of crime and violence.^[1] Jamaica has had one of the highest murder rates in the world for many years, according to UN estimates.^[2] Former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson described the situation as "a national challenge of unprecedented proportions".^[3]

Murder rate

In 2005, Jamaica had 1,674 murders for a murder rate of 58 per 100,000 people.^[4] That year, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the world.^[2] In November 2008, the Jamaican Parliament voted to retain the death penalty, which is performed by hanging.^[5]

There were 1,682 reported murders in 2009 and 1,428 in 2010. Since 2011 the murder rate has continued to fall following the downward trend started in 2010, with increases in police patrols, curfews and more effective anti-gang activities.^[6]

Violence against homosexuals

The U.S. Department of State reported that brutality against homosexuals, mainly by private citizens, was widespread in 2008.^[7] Homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica, incurring a prison sentence.^[8] Many Jamaicans are hostile toward LGBT and intersex people,^[1] and several mob attacks against gay people have been reported.^[9][10][11]

Some critics claim that attacks on gay people are encouraged in some popular Jamaican dancehall/reggae songs that are sometimes referred to as murder music.^[12] The country has been called "the most homophobic place on earth" by human-rights groups.^[13]

See also

• Jamaican posse
• Yardies

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "North and Central America and Caribbean Jamaica". Travel advice by country. United Kingdom, Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 2009-03-20. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/jamaica#. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Nationmaster Crime Stats". Nationmaster.com. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 
3. ^ "Washington Post Foreign Service". Nisat.org. http://www.nisat.org/murder%20madness%20in%20jamaica.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 
4. ^ "Crime, violence and development: trends, costs, and policy options in the Caribbean" (PDF). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. pp. 37. http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/Caribbean-study-en.pdf. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
5. ^ "Jamaica votes for death penalty". BBC. 2008-11-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7749207.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-04. 
6. ^ "Prime Minister Golding Speaks on Crime Reduction". http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=29278. 
7. ^ "2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 2008 Human Rights Report: Jamaica". United States, Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2009-02-25. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/wha/119165.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
8. ^ Crimes against gays are mounting in Jamaica and across the Caribbean By Tim Padgett. Wednesday, April 12, 2006
9. ^ . Lacey, Marc (2008-02-24). "Attacks Show Easygoing Jamaica Is Dire Place for Gays". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/world/americas/24jamaica.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
10. ^ "Jamaica: Shield Gays from Mob Attacks". Human Rights Watch. 2008-01-31. http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/01/31/jamaica-shield-gays-mob-attacks. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
11. ^ "Document - Jamaica: Amnesty International condemns homophobic violence" (Press release). Amnesty International. 2007-04-15. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR38/004/2007/en/496206cb-d39d-11dd-a329-2f46302a8cc6/amr380042007en.html. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
12. ^ Infantry, Ashante (2008-03-03). "'Murder music' sparks Caribbean tourism boycott call". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Music/article/308721. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
13. ^ Padgett, Tim (2006-05-12). "The Most Homophobic Place on Earth?". Time Magazine. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.html. Retrieved 2009-11-26.