NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, BEHAVIOURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Course: Organize Crime

Class report on Crime Intervention

Student ID#: 33090064

Instructor: Mrs. Turner Pryce

Students Name: Camoy Hibbert

When one thinks of crime intervention, whats the first think that comes to mind. Courts, law
enforcement, crime stoppers, criminal laws, report systems, jails and prisons.
On October 27, 2011 I was privilege to be apart of a group of students along two lecturers Mrs.
Pryce and Mrs. Williams who visited Division Area 4 In Kingston and St. Andrew. The day was
well spent and I learnt a lot. What was interesting about the trip was that I had a chance to be
upfront with the machinery and persons who are directly involved in crime intervention.
There are a lot of crimes that occurs on a day to day basis and each time a criminal is a
apprehended, it involves crime intervention. Each time there is a new machinery to detect or
highlight bloodstains or finger prints, it involves crime intervention. There are lots of crime
intervention strategies that exist to help curb and stop this monster called crime. Some of which I
was privileged of been exposed to on my venture to Division Area 4. I will now go into the
various methods of crime intervention.
The first place we went was where recovered ganja was kept and tested until ready for disposal;
it was more or less a store room. Our tour guide for this section was Mr. Naughty a Detective
Sergeant of Police and also the assistant store keeper. What I learnt is that there is a process of
proper processing of the ganja. Firstly all the ganja is weighed and a sample from each block
parcel is taken and sent to the lab inorder to give expert verification. This is important because
other drugs could be stored with the ganja. What I garnered from this was that accuracy was
important even more so in crime intervention. After each ganja case is closed the ganja is
destroyed by burning. This crime intervention method is one that seeks to eradicate illegal
substances when acquired. It leaves no trace of usage but totally gets rid of the entire substance.

From there we then went into one of the labs where testing and verification of finger prints were
done. This is very important in crime intervention as it ensures that the right criminal is acquitted
and charged. In this lab there was a lot special equipment useful for various reasons and
circumstances. There was the Drying machine- this machine is used to dry for example wet
paper with useful information as well as might contain finger printing. The paper is sprayed with
a special chemical known as the ninidrin which develops latent prints on porus surfaces. There
was also the Fuming Chamber which is used to develop latent prints which cannot be seen with
the naked eye.
Some criminals think they can commit a crime and wipe up all the blood stains even after years
but there is a special device known as the heat-vision camera. A prototype of such a device could
detect blood diluted to as little as one part blood in 100 parts water. In tests, the camera was also
capable of making out invisible stains and patterns from backgrounds of four different types of
fabric, and could distinguish between blood, household bleach, rust, soda and coffee. Detective
corporal Wright who was our facilitator for that area told us that no amount of bleach can be used
to clear bloodstains for the device not to pick it up.
In securing evidence at a crime scene which is also another very important factor in crime
intervention, the yellow tape is use. This acts as a bar to deter people from moving or tampering
with possible evidence that could very well link a criminal to a crime.
From the lab we benefitted from a very interesting and noteworthy presentation on Crime scene
management and Narcotics. Both exhibitions were useful and edifying. These Narcotic officers
have to possess the expertise and competence inorder to detect these drugs carriers. The

presentation on Narcotics very information as it revealed to us the students the implementations

of proper organization and tactic in effective professionalism.
When I sit and analyze crime intervention I think of crime intervention I think of the entire
judiciary system, the constitution, various legislation and Acts because all these seek to ensure
that crime doesnt takes place however if it does there are enactments which exist to depose these
criminals and their wrong doings. Witnesses plays a very important role in crime intervention by
reporting crimes; the truth is sometimes a witness will be the only evidence a law enforcement
officer has in order to detain a criminal and all these different persons and divisions play a vital
role in the ultimate eradication of crime. The various crime reporting systems that are inplace for
e.g. (Crime stop and kingfish). The other devices by for e.g. Hawkeye a security group in
Jamaica, they have implemented some very special devices to help track and trap criminals in the
case of a robbery or if someone is been followed. They implant devices in homes and on cell
phones alike. The installations of cameras in public and business places is a constant reminder of
crime scene intervention because if there should be a robbery, shooting or killing; one can always
refer back to the camera for confirmation. When the police has lead of certain criminals been in a
particular area and issue a curfew, or state of emergency; this too is also a crime intervention
method. All these methods are in an effort to intervene in crime and demolish it.
In concluding, crime intervention is one aspect of the judiciary process that must be respected
and appreciated. The truth is had it not been for all these intervention methods how much more
would crime be taking over our society. All the different methods, the systems, the devices that
are inplace and that assist officers in confiscating criminals are what makes up Crime
Intervention.

Limitations
There was just one major limitation which was in the area of Administration. When we arrived,
there was only one area that was ready to escort us around. This created a bit of time wasting in
the process because we had to wait until the others were ready to accommodate us. I believe also
that there could have been more planning which is still administration in the sense that because
the visiting areas are small what they could have done is while one group is in one section,
another group is in another and then we rotate. However in the end it all worked out, it was a
good trip and a productive day.