ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to this opportunity to thank all those who aided me in the completion of this

Internal Assessment. Firstly I would like to thank God for his guidance and strength has

without him this I.A. could not have been done.

Secondly I would like Eugene Singh for providing me with historical information about

the St. Joseph Methodist Church. I would also like to thank Reverend Mona Christmas-

Fraser for allowing me to use the St. Joseph Methodist Church as a bar to determine whether

or not the church’s outreach programs are able to reduce crime and violence in the town of

Old Harbour.

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 INTRODUCTION
To what extent are the St. Joseph Methodist Church outreach programs able to reduce

crime and violence in the town of Old Harbour?

In recent times due to the migration of criminals from Spanish Town and May Pen into

the town of Old Harbour, there has been an increase in crime and violence. The St. Joseph

Methodist Church has taken drastic measures to tackle this problem by targeting illiteracy,

poverty, and by making available Christianity to the community members.

The research question that which is at the centre of this study is - “How significant is the

St. Joseph Methodist Church outreach programs in reducing crime and violence in the town

of Old Harbour?” Along with question are three other related sub-questions.

1. How influential are these outreach programs on the citizens of Old Harbour?

2. Has the town of Old Harbour improved socially, since the introduction of the

outreach programs?

3. Other than the reduction of crime and violence what other benefits could the town of

Old Harbour receive from the outreach programs?

Statement of Problem

The town known as Old Harbour in the parish of St. Catherine. A town comprising

mostly of members of the working class, as seen an influx of migrating criminals from

the neighboring the towns of May Pen and Spanish Town since the year 2004. This as

resulted in a significant increase in crime and violence in the Old Harbour. This increase

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 has caused social and economic problems and also an increase in murders and other

criminal activities.

Purpose of Research

By conducting this research I aim to find out the success of St. Joseph Methodist Church

outreach programs in reducing crime and violence in Old Harbour. Depending on its success

I hope to educate other communities with a similar problem about the utilization of outreach

programs. Also the findings of this research will assist other outreach organizations such as

youth groups to better help the community to get past its stagnant growth. Finally the

carrying out of this internal assessment is a requirement of the Caribbean Studies syllabus.

Delimitations

The limitations that this research includes the fact that time was a major constraint. Another

limitation may be that the researcher might have not covered as much study samples that

would make the research truly valid.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

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 The aim of this Internal Assessment is to identify and understand the role of the

St. Joseph Methodist Church in reduction of crime and violence in the town of

Old Harbour.

Objectives

1. To identify the measures being used by the St. Joseph Methodist Church

to assist in the reduction of crime and violence in the town of Old Harbour.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of the measures that the church has made in

triggering a change in the lives of the community members.

3. To see whether or not the reasons for crime and violence would be

eradicated if the community obtains peace. (poverty, illiteracy, and a lack of

religion).

LITERATURE REVIEW

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 In order to give this research merit and validity the topic was compared to well-respected

authoritative persons with similar research topics and concepts which are directly related to

this topic which is: “To what extent are the St. Joseph Methodist Church outreach programs

able to reduce crime and violence in the town of Old Harbour?”

This topic was merited and validated by previous researches of a similar nature carried out

Crime causation is a daunting and complex field. For centuries, philosophers have

pondered the cause of crime as it pertains to human behaviours. Recent research suggests that

individuals are unaware of the other people’s behaviour as well as the causes of their own

conduct; modern crime causation models favour an interdisciplinary lens that recognizes how

different fields complement, rather than contrast with, one another. This approach

acknowledges that no single theory can explain all the many types of criminality or the legal

and moral issues that accompany them.

Regarding violence and crime, Michael Brunner, a leading U.S. Department of Justice

official, detail the link between academic failure and delinquency. In Regarding America:

the Imprisonment of Potential, Brunner documents that “this link is welded to reading

failure,” and proposes that “research-based reading instruction can be used to reduce

recidivism and increase employment opportunity for incarcerated juvenile offenders.” This

has been working in this regard. This has provided for the community a chance to literate.

The St. Joseph Methodist Church has provided a Home Work Centre which helps the

community members with reading, literary skills, computer skills, and help with whatever

home work the students have. The St. Joseph Methodist Church also uses this opportunity to

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teach the users of the Home Work Centre proper social skills in order to better individuals

and socially accepted.

According to Willem Bonger the first Marxist Criminologist, Poverty was the major

cause of crime, but the effect of poverty can be traced to the family structure and on parental

inability to properly supervise their children. Be that the case then the church has

demonstrated that it has the capacity to teach mothers and fathers proper parenting skill by

combining with various organizations such as U.S.A.I.D (the United State Agency for

International Development) to fully carry out this seemingly daunting task.

In Sociology and You, it states that all societies have ways to promote order, stability,

and predictability this is called Social Control. The St. Joseph Methodist Church acts as a

social control in the town of Old Harbour.

Internal social control lies with the individual. It is developed during the socialization

process. Persons practice internal social control when they do something because you know it

is right or when they don’t do something because they it is wrong.

Unfortunately for society, the process of socialization does not ensure that all people will

conform all of the time. For this reason, external social control must be present.

External social control is based social sanction-rewards and punishment designed to

encourage desired behaviour. Positive sanctions such as awards, assistance, and smiles of

approval, are used to encourage conformity. The church engages in this process through the

offering of scholarships to the youths of community, and also through the creation of job

opportunities.

As he helped initiate the American experiment Benjamin Franklin stated that “religion

will be a powerful regulator of our actions, it gives us peace and tranquility within our minds,

6
and render us benevolent, useful and beneficial to others” (Isaacson: 87-88). The definition

of religion takes two main forms, substantive and functional. Substantive definitions analyze

religion in terms of its content. While Functional definitions define religion in terms of the

functions it performs for society or individuals. Functionalists see religion as helping and

maintain social order. So the church’s idea of spreading Christianity to the community

members is a big step in reducing crime and violence in area.

RESEARCH DESIGN

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 This sociological research design employed by the researcher is questionnaires, which

was a list of questions completed by a number of persons being surveyed and also by

observation, a technique which engrosses the scrutinizing of the area of study.

The research paper was more quantitative than qualitative, in terms of the information

was represented by diagrams such as pie chart, bar graph and other quantitative depictions.

This information was assembled by means of questionnaires in which a survey was

conducted on the St. Joseph Methodist Church and the town of Old Harbour, and these

questionnaires were issued. This method was preferred by the researcher because it is

considered to be accurate, less time consuming and most of all economical and can be filled

by many persons simultaneously and it is effortlessly dispensed by the researcher. The

researcher conducted this survey in a formal comportment, in terms of social interaction

with the residents and the church members asking them questions directly. The information

was also obtained from various books and from researches from well renowned and

respected sociologists such as Karl Marx.

The sampling technique used by the researcher was probability sampling, to be,

unequivocal, systematic random sampling. The researcher knows the importance of ethical

issues in all cases involving treatment of human subjects and consequently the respondents

to the research were guaranteed ambiguity, privacy and confidentiality prior to attempting

to answer the questionnaire issued. This was ensured with the reduction of the information

to numerical codes and statistical aggregates. Since this was a small sample, the twin issues

of ambiguity and confidentiality assume great importance. The researcher also explained

the intent of the project to the sample selected before they attempted to answer the

questionnaire.

8
 THE SAMPLE
The method of the sampling used by the researcher was systematic random sampling.

The sampling frame is divided into groups before a proportionate number of units are

selected from each group. Within this sampling method no member of the sample is likely

9
to be more preferred than another in the selection. The selection cannot be predicted and

each member of the sample has the same chance of selection. Systematic random sample

eliminates the researcher’s bias and make the sampling procedures more consistent and

efficient.

This type of sampling technique is representative of the population and uses a rather

predetermined systematic procedure, in that, the research was limited to persons 15 years

old and over. The researcher handed out 30 questionnaires in total. Half of which were

given to females and the other half to the males. Judging from the results of the

questionnaires a higher percentage of the females were employed when compared to the

males.

The sample group contained a total of thirty (30) participants selected from the

general public. The sample group consisted of fifteen (15) females who ranged from ages

13-70 and fifteen (15) males who ranged from 13-65.

THE DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

The information gathered, for the completion of this research paper was done by the

use of questionnaires. This method of data collection was chosen because they are usually

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 easy to administer and it is also less time consuming due to the fact that it can be filled by

the persons being surveyed in a large amount at once. This was indispensable since time

was a major constraint. This method can also be considered as both inexpensive and

reliable, in terms of information towards the successful completion of this research paper.

They are also easier to administer and data can be easily tabulated, measured and analyzed.

Questionnaire
Place a tick inside the box to fit your response

1. Do you know the St. Joseph Methodist Church?

Yes No

2. Which age group do you fall into?

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 13-15 16-18 19-21 22-25 26 & over

3. Which gender are you?

Male Female

4. Are you a member of the church?

Yes No

5. Can you name any outreach program of the church?

Yes No

6. If you can identify something that the church does tick it below.

Home Work Centre Soup Kitchen Sport competitions none of the above

7. What do you think is the main problem in this community?

Poverty Crime Illiteracy Lack of God other

8. What does the community need most?

God Money Less Crime Literacy others

9. Do you think the church can do anything to help?

Yes No

10. How would you evaluate the churches outreach programs?

Poor Average Good Excellent not sure

11. Has the outreach programs ever helped you in any way?

Yes No

12. What is your level of education?

Traditional high school below average high school Community College

University others

13. What do you think is the average age of the persons committing the crimes?

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 13-15 16-18 19-29 30& over

14. How does the town of Old Harbour benefit from the St. Joseph Methodist Church?

Employment creation Maintenance of schools Offer scholarships

Provide infrastructures

15. In the absence of the church do you think the crime level will increase or decrease?

Increase Decrease

PRESENTATION OF DATA
The researcher will present the data through the use of diagrams such as figures and

tables. A table is usually an arrangement of words, numbers, signs, or combination of them in

parallel columns for the purpose of exhibiting certain information in compact and

13
comprehensible form. A figure on the other hand is any kind of graphic illustration other than

a table, namely charts such as, pie charts and bar graphs.

With regards to where data has been tabulated, information was extracted from the

questionnaires (the raw data) and organized in a tabular format. The researcher went through

the questionnaire and converted the raw totals to percentages and then it was classified. This

is a preliminary step in the data analysis process.

With regards to graphic presentation of data, it is an alternate form to presenting data

in a tabular form. The most elementary form of graphic presentation of data in the research

includes pie charts, bar graphs and histograms. Pie charts while be used to analysis and

illustrate the differences or similarities between groups.

Age 13-15 16-18 19-21 22-25 26 & over

No. of Males that know about the Church 10 10 10 5 10
No. of Females that know about the Church 10 10 5 10 10

The table above is showing the number of males and females that know about the
church.

Questions

2. Which age group do you fall into?

13-15 16-18 19-21 22-25 26 & over

3. Which gender are you?

Male Female

5. Can you name any outreach program of the church?

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 Yes No

25%

20%

15%

10%
This bar graph shows a comparison between the number of males that know about the

church’s outreach programs for each age group and the number of females that know

5%
about the church’s outreach programs for each age group.

What the participants think is the main

0%
problem of the community

Question
5%
13-15 16-18 19-21 22-25 2
10%
7. What do you think is the main problem in this community?
30% Poverty o
Poverty15%
Crime Illiteracy Lack of God other Crime
Illiteracy
Lack of God
other

40%

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The pie chart above illustrates the views of the participants in terms of what they

think is main problem of the community.

What the participants think the community

needs most
Question 40%
40%
35%the community need
8. What does 30%most?
30%
God Money
25% Less Crime Literacy others
20% 15%
15% 10%
10% 5%
5%
0%
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God Money Less Literacy other
Crime
The bar above illustrates the views of the participants in terms of what they think the

community needs most in order to improve its situation.

Participant's Evaluation of the Outreach

Programs
Question

10.30%
How would you evaluate the churches outreach programs?
25%Average Good Excellent not sure
Poor
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Poor Average Good Excellent Not sure

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The bar graph above shows how the participants evaluated the church’s outreach

programs.

Question

11. Has the outreach programs ever helped you in any way?

Yes No

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 A Comparison between the Participants
who the Outreach Programs have
assisted in some way

70% 30%

Yes No

The pie chart above shows a comparison between the Participants who the church’s

outreach programs have assisted in one way or the other.

Question

12. What is your level of education?

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 Traditional high school below average high school Community College

University others

Level of Education in the Town

50%
50% Traditional high school
45% 40%
40% below average high
35% school
30% Community College
25%
20% University
15%
15% 10%
others
10% 5%
5%
0%

The histogram above shows the level of education of the participants, which shows a

low percentage of them having a tertiary level of education

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 ANALYSIS OF DATA
Based on the responses of the participants, even though the church’s reach programs

are not known by all the participants, the ones that knew the outreach programs a large

percentage of them gave the outreach programs an average evaluation (40%), while a small

percentage gave the outreach programs a poor evaluation (10%).

Eighty-five percent (85%) of the participants are aware of the St. Joseph Methodist

Church’s presence. This large percentage is an indication of the impact of the church on the

community. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the participants were able to name an outreach

program; a majority of the younger participants (age 13-21) knew the Sport competitions,

while a majority of older participants (age 26 & over) knew the Soup Kitchen.

Forty percent (40%) of the participants stated that community’s main problem was

crime; thirty percent (30%) suggested that poverty was the main problem, fifteen percent

(15%) claimed that illiteracy, ten percent (10%) identified a lack of God as the main

problem, while five percent (5%) believed that the main problem was something else.

These results shows that the majority of the participants identify crime and violence

as the main problem of Old Harbour (area of study). Thus seeing the increase need for any

means in the reduction of crime and violence in order to bring social stability within the area

of study.

Forty percent (40%) of the participants suggested that a reduction in crime was what

the community needed most, thirty percent (30%) claimed that the community needs money

more than anything else, (15%) indicated increase literacy as the thing needed most by the

community, ten percent (10%) saw an increase in religion as what the community needed

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most, while five percent (5%) believed that what the community needed most was something

else.

Seventy percent (70%) of the participants stated that the church’s outreach programs

assisted them in one way or another, with only a mere thirty percent (30%) of the participants

stated that the church’s outreach programs have never helped them in any way.

A large percentage of participants were either students or unemployed. There was a

large percentage of participants who attend below average high school (50%) and a small

percentage of the participants not having a tertiary level of education (5%).

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 Findings, Discussion of Findings and

Conclusions
The findings are as follows:

• The outreach programs of the church are very effective in the reduction of crime and

violence in Old Harbour (area of study).

• The St. Joseph Methodist Church aims to decrease crime and violence, while at the

same time trying to increase the literacy rate and spread Christianity.

• Despite the fact that all community members are not aware of the church and its

outreach programs. The entire community is positively impacted by the church.

The respondents affirmed that the St. Joseph Methodist Church is of immense

significance to the community.

The church contributes to the community in several ways. Some responses that were

indicated when asked what contribution(s) the church has made to their community, includes:

 Scholarships are offered to the youth of the community.

 The provision of proper infrastructures such as sport complex.

 Maintenance of schools in the area of Old Harbour such as Marley Mount Primary and

Old Harbour High School.

 A system for the creation of job opportunities, in which person would be assisted in

getting jobs from companies that the church had relations with.

A substantial number of participants who responded to the questionnaires stated that

the St. Joseph Methodist Church outreach programs have helped them in one way or another.

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 This is an indication that the outreach programs have a positive impact on the

community and its members and continues to make an impact.

The St. Joseph Methodist Church has become very important to the community.

Participant alluded to the fact that the scholarships, maintenance of school along with the

other benefits the church offers have become vital to the community. It is also evident where

the community has become dependent on the church and the community members have

adapted to the year round influence of the church.

Based on the sociological research carried out it observed the St. Joseph Methodist

Church’s outreach programs have been able to reduce crime and violence in the town of Old

Harbour. It was also noticed by the researcher that the church has benefited the community

through, scholarships, maintenance of school, job provision, along with other programs

which helped to develop the community.

It is evident that a large percentage of the participants where aware of the church and

its out research programs and the positive impact of the out research programs.

Therefore it is clear that the extent of which the St. Joseph Methodist Church’s

outreach programs able to reduce crime and violence is significant.

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 Bibliography
 Mustapha, N. (2007) .Sociology For Caribbean Students Volume 1 Society and

Culture, Ian Randle Publishers,

 Marx ,K. Critical Theories: Marxist, Conflict & Feminist

 Haralambos and Holborn. (2004) .Sociology Themes and Perspectives, Harper

Collins Publishers Limited,

 Shepard, G. (2001). Sociology And You, National Textbook Company,

 The Journal of Religion & Society: The Kirpke Centre Volume 7

 Rowe, T “the church and community development” Retrieved February 27, 2009

From http://www.church_and_development.com

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