The Dilemma of Missing People in Jamaica: A Societal Disintegration of the Family Structure and a Gendered Phenomenon

Authors

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Vincent M.S. Peterkin College of Humanities, Behavioural and Social Sciences.
  • Dennis Brooks Corporate Communication, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Kingston, Jamaica, WI.
  • Caroline McLean Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Barbara Biira Department of Psychology, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Tabitha Muchee Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Advella L. Meikle Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

Abstract

Introduction: Missing people is a psychosocial phenomenon with a societal cost associated with it, particularly children. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been collating missing people data, to address this phenomenon for decades. Despite the efforts and surveillance system implemented by the JCF, at least 1000 people go missing annually in Jamaica.

Objectives: The general objectives of this study are to 1. evaluate the probability of missing people in Jamaica, 2. assess the gender distribution of missing people in Jamaica, 3. determine the status of missing people in Jamaica, and 4. evaluate the number of hours it takes before a missing person is confirmed dead, and disaggregate this by gender.

Methods and materials: The data for this study was collated from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) which covered the period from 2018 through to July 31, 2022. The Data was recorded, stored and retrieved using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 21.0 as well as Microsoft Excel. The level of significance that was used to determine statistical significance was less than 5% (0.05) at the 2-tailed level of significance.

Findings: Generally, children are more likely to go missing in Jamaica (probability = 0.66) compared to adults (probability = 0.34). The overall probability of continued missing cases was 0.26 or 26%, with 2018 having the least number of continued missing cases (i.e., probability = 0.13 or 13%) and the most being in 2021 (probability = 0.47 or 47%).The statistics revealed that the probability of people being confirmed dead after being reported missing was 0.03 (or 3%), with a low of 0.02 (or 2%) in 2019 and 2021. Two hundred and six missing people were confirmed dead and of this 172 were males and 34 were females. This means that males were 5.1 times more likely to be killed than females. On average, five people would go missing daily-four returned, and one is unaccountable. It took 180 hours (or approximately 8 days) before a missing person was confirmed dead. However, it took 224 hours (or 9 days) for a missing male to be confirmed dead and 912 hours (or 38 days) for a missing female to be confirmed dead, and it took 195 hours (or approximately 8 days) before a missing adult was confirmed dead. However, it took 233 hours (or 10 days) for a missing adult male to be confirmed dead and 1180 hours (or 49 days) for a missing adult female to be confirmed dead after being reported missing in Jamaica.

Conclusion: Jamaican families are at a crossroads and the economic marginalization of the families, as well as absent fathers, are further eroding the family units.

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Published

2022-07-27

How to Cite

Bourne, P. A. ., Peterkin, V. M. ., Brooks, D. ., McLean, C. ., Fallah, J. ., Foster, C. ., Biira, B. ., Campbell, C. ., Muchee, T. ., & Meikle, A. L. . (2022). The Dilemma of Missing People in Jamaica: A Societal Disintegration of the Family Structure and a Gendered Phenomenon. International Journal of Current Research in Education, Culture and Society, 6(2). Retrieved from http://stm.eurekajournals.com/index.php/IJCRECS/article/view/261

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2022): International Journal of Current Research in Education, Culture and Society (ISSN: 2581-4028)

Section

Articles

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