Breaking it down: So what’s in the Crime Fund Policy Plan specifically for youth?

GREAT BAY--The youth-specific part of the 2026 Crime Fund plan is not one program, but a package of interventions. It includes diversion for first-time juvenile offenders, therapy for minors dealing with trauma or aggression, structured community service, skills training, maritime certification, construction training, entrepreneurship support, martial arts, steel pan, calypso, mentoring and youth gun violence intervention.

The big takeaway: Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling and her Ministry is trying to move the Crime Fund beyond traditional enforcement and toward prevention, rehabilitation and second chances. The strongest youth items are the Halt-type Diversion Program, Voices over Violence, Project Singh, Roll to Rise, Rhythm Against Crime, Kids-At-Sea, and Second Chance Builders.

Lets break it down.

Main youth-focused Crime Fund projects and initiatives

1. Halt-type Diversion Program

Allocated: XCG 350,000
Agency: Court of Guardianship
Focus: First-time and minor juvenile offenders.
What it does: Creates an early-intervention alternative to prosecution, with corrective sessions, community service, behavioral workshops, counseling, monitoring, referral systems, draft legislation and standard operating procedures. This is probably the biggest youth justice item in the plan.

2. Voices over Violence: Youth Gun Violence Intervention

Allocated: XCG 143,100
Agency: Public Prosecutor
Focus: Youth gun violence prevention.
What it does: Mentors young people, creates a youth empowerment hub, uses a hackathon-style model, and treats youth as co-creators of solutions rather than only as risks. It also includes a proposed US $400 monthly stipend per participant.

3. Project Singh

Allocated: XCG 44,000
Agency: Court of Guardianship / NIPA / Youth Probation Department
Focus: Skills and restorative justice for minors.
What it does: Combines a 40-hour general property maintenance course with supervised community service, turning community service into a learning and empowerment pathway.

4. Equine Therapy for Minor Offenders

Allocated: XCG 45,000
Agency: Court of Guardianship
Focus: Youth with aggression, trauma-related symptoms or emotional instability.
What it does: Provides tailored behavioral therapy for minor offenders, with referrals through youth probation officers.

5. Insurance Coverage and Proper Attire for Minors Performing Community Service

Allocated: XCG 50,000
Agency: Court of Guardianship
Focus: Minors doing community service.
What it does: Provides blanket insurance, work clothing and protective gear so minors can carry out community service safely and with dignity.

6. Justice/VSA Construction Skills Training for Employment in St. Maarten’s Infrastructure Growth

Allocated: XCG 120,000
Agency: Ministry of Justice
Focus: Unemployed young men, especially those with criminal records.
What it does: A seven-month training program for 20 to 30 participants per cycle, connecting young men to construction fundamentals and possible work opportunities linked to infrastructure projects.

7. Rhythm Against Crime: Notes of Hope

Allocated: XCG 126,000
Agency: Ministry of Justice
Focus: At-risk youth through culture.
What it does: Provides 10 months of steel pan lessons, calypso singing, songwriting and group performances, with twice-weekly sessions. The goal is structure, discipline, teamwork, mentorship and cultural education.

8. Kids-At-Sea Sailing Training Program

Allocated: XCG 112,000
Agency: Ministry of Justice
Focus: At-risk or under-employed young adults, ages 18 to 30.
What it does: Provides maritime training, job assistance, basic seamanship and three certifications: STWC-2010, 15m Powerboat and Engineer Grade 1.

9. Roll to Rise

Allocated: XCG 81,000
Agency: Ministry of Justice
Focus: At-risk children ages 7 to 16.
What it does: A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pilot program combining martial arts, mentorship and guided discussions. It starts with school gym sessions, followed by a six-month after-school program.

10. Justice/VSA Second Chance Builders: Entrepreneurial Training and Reintegration Program for Young Men in St. Maarten

Allocated: XCG 90,000
Agency: Ministry of Justice
Focus: Young men with criminal records.
What it does: Provides resume writing, job readiness, business start-up knowledge, entrepreneurial training, mentorship, life skills and support for micro-enterprises.

Wider named policy initiatives or structures

11. Crime Fund Policy Plan 2026

This is the overall draft plan that proposes XCG 1,196,100 in allocations from the Crime Fund, with youth, prevention, rehabilitation and community intervention as its main direction.

12. Crime Fund Governance Structure and Handbook

Not a youth program by itself, but important. The plan says a fuller governance structure and handbook are being developed to guide submissions, procurement, accounting, oversight and reporting. This matters because the youth programs will only be credible if the public can see how projects are selected, funded and measured.

13. Youth Empowerment Hub

Part of Voices over Violence. It is described as a safe creative space where young people can develop, test and implement ideas.

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