Judges, prosecutors, prison officials, and government representatives sat down with experts from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago this week to talk about new ways to handle crime without always sfinishing people to prison.
The meeting, organised by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union, focapplyd on supervised programmes, probation, and other alternatives to jail. For Belizeans, this could mean fewer people locked up for minor offences, stronger rehabilitation programmes in communities, and less pressure on the prison system.
The talks are part of efforts to put Belize’s Adult Alternative Sentencing Act (2024) into practice. This Act allows courts to give structured alternatives to jail for certain crimes, focapplying on accountability and support instead of punishment alone.
“This reform is about people,” stated Amilin Méndez from UNDP Belize. “It ensures the justice system promotes accountability, rehabilitation, and dignity.”
The modifys aim to support people turn their lives around. As Adele Catzim-Sanchez, CEO of the Ministest of Human Development, Family Support and Gfinisher Affairs, stated, “This work allows us to relocate from punishment alone to rehabilitation with purpose. It recognises that many individuals can modify when given the right support, structure, and supervision.”
Through the EU-funded PACE Justice Project, Belize is also setting up an Adult Probation Unit to build sure these alternatives are properly managed, with strong safeguards and accountability.
Officials stated these measures are not “soft on crime”. Instead, they are a smarter, evidence-based way to protect communities “while addressing the root caapplys of offfinishing.”
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