Criminologist urges bold school reform to break cycle of violence

Transforming schools into centres of emotional intelligence, detecting at-risk youth early, and reforming the justice system are among the critical solutions proposed by criminologist and criminal psychologist Kirk Alleyne to tackle violent crime in Barbados.

In a July report titled Confronting Violent Crime in Barbados: Understanding the Root Causes and Breaking the Cycle of Violence, which was shared with Barbados TODAY, Alleyne warns that without bold, coordinated interventions, the country risks further entrenching cycles of violence, fear, and instability.

“Educational reform can address both the symptoms and root causes of crime by promoting emotional resilience, civic responsibility, and opportunity,” he said. “Schools are uniquely positioned to act as hubs for change. They provide not just education, but mentorship, life skills, and a sense of belonging.”

Alleyne’s recommendations span seven key areas: teaching conflict resolution and emotional intelligence; early identification of at-risk youth; creating career opportunities through technical and vocational training; embedding non-violence into the national curriculum; using schools as community hubs; delivering targeted support for boys and young men; and implementing restorative justice-based discipline.

He also advocates for broader national actions, including job creation for youth, challenging harmful masculinity norms, and increasing support for victims and witnesses.

“The challenge of violence in Barbados is multifaceted, but not insurmountable. With legislative reform, meaningful community engagement and targeted social interventions, Barbados can disrupt cycles of violence and reclaim its reputation as a safe and stable nation.”

The seven-page report presents a sobering analysis of the island’s crime landscape, revealing that nearly 60 per cent of those charged with murder over a 20-year period were repeat offenders. Alleyne reviewed police data from January 2002 to March 2022 and found that 58.36 per cent of individuals [342 of 562 people] charged with murder had prior charges for violent crimes, including assault, actual bodily harm, endangering life, serious bodily harm, and wounding.

“This statistic is significant,” he wrote. “It suggests that individuals who engage in violent crimes may follow a progressive trajectory toward more serious offences, including homicide.”

The island’s murder count for 2025 currently stands at 30, with two-thirds of those involving firearms.

“Firearms and ammunition continue to represent a significant and ongoing threat to law and order as well as to the peace and stability of Barbados,” Alleyne warned. “The rising number of gun-related deaths may reflect not only a spike in gang violence but also a cycle of revenge killings.”

He said the problem is exacerbated by the increasing accessibility of firearms to juveniles.

“The dangers are magnified when firearms become easily accessible, particularly to juveniles,” he said. “When young individuals obtain weapons, the likelihood of them becoming involved in serious criminal activities – such as armed robberies, home invasions, and shootings – increases significantly.”

Alleyne stressed that gun violence is both a public health and national security crisis.

“The spread of firearms throughout the country is not just a law enforcement issue. It requires a comprehensive approach that includes effective policing, strong community engagement, youth intervention, and legislative reform to reduce the inflow of illegal weapons.”

The report also traces a disturbing behavioural shift: a growing reliance on violence to settle interpersonal disputes.

“There is a growing tendency to resolve interpersonal disputes through violence rather than through dialogue, mediation, or legal means,” Alleyne observed. “We must confront the fact that retaliatory responses and violent escalation have become normalised.”

Of the 30 murders committed in 2025 so far, 10 were carried out using means other than firearms – a data point Alleyne said supports the view that violent behaviour in Barbados extends well beyond the issue of gun control.
Alleyne’s findings on gang activity are equally alarming. He describes a shift from loose street groups to highly organised criminal networks that mimic corporate structures, with established chains of command and clearly defined roles.

“Violence, particularly gun violence, is a primary means of asserting dominance, settling disputes and sending messages to both rivals and the wider community. Recruitment is often strategic. Individuals with a known history of ruthlessness, violent tendencies, or a desire for status and power are deliberately targeted.”

These recruits, often young and marginalised, are armed and used as enforcers to protect gang leaders, intimidate rivals, and maintain internal discipline. Alleyne cautioned that these patterns of violence – both gang-related and interpersonal – are causing serious damage to social cohesion.

“Innocent civilians may be caught in the crossfire, and the normalisation of violence creates an environment where fear and silence replace community cooperation and trust. Over time, this cycle contributes to the erosion of social cohesion, stunts economic development, and deepens the sense of marginalisation and hopelessness in many inner-city communities.”

While acknowledging the government’s efforts – including bail reforms for violent crimes, modernisation of the juvenile justice system, and increased police seizures of illegal weapons – Alleyne urged policymakers to adopt a more sustained, preventative approach.

Among the most urgent reforms, he said, is a reimagined school system that places emotional development on par with academic learning, and that positions educators as frontline responders to early signs of criminal vulnerability.

He called for “trained educators to detect signs of trauma, abuse, or gang influence,” and for “school counsellors and social workers to provide timely intervention.”

Regarding discipline, he recommends replacing punitive measures like suspensions and expulsions with restorative justice models and structured behavioural support.

“Promote a positive school climate that values inclusion, discipline with dignity, and emotional safety,” he advised.

And critically, he highlighted the need to support boys and young men, who are overrepresented in both crime statistics and vulnerability indicators.

“Develop mentorship programmes that provide positive male role models and challenge harmful gender norms,” he urged. “Recognise male students as a high-risk group and deliver tailored interventions.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb