Food For The Poor (FFP) has paid the fines of 29 prisoners who committed non-violent offences so they can spend Christmas with their families.
The first 17 inmates were released from the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre on World Human Rights Day, on December 10. The others were released between December 11-18 from Central and Half-Way Tree police lock-ups and the Tower Street and Fort Augusta adult correctional centres.
Prior to the releases, assessments were conducted of inmates at the facilities. The fines were paid for the non-violent offences, including traffic breaches and larceny.
Material gifts
David Mair, executive director, FFP Jamaica, said the group's mandate is not only to serve the poor with food, houses and other material gifts, but to reunite families and promote peace and prosperity, especially during the seasons of Christmas and Easter.
"This is an annual event that Food For The Poor prides itself on doing," said Mair. Each year, we give non-violent offenders, who are sometimes unable to pay simple fines, a second chance to be reunited with their families and loved ones for Christmas," said Mair.
FFP provides the inmates with lunch for the day, cash for transportation to go home and a gift package containing toiletries. The programme is sustained through continued financial support from donors in the United States.
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