Tackling’s Crime Fund Plan Aims to Reach Youth Before Crime Takes Hold

GREAT BAY--The Ministry of Justice is moving the Crime Fund in a new direction for 2026, placing its main focus on youth, prevention, rehabilitation and community-based intervention rather than only on traditional enforcement after crimes have already occurred.

The shift is outlined in the Ministry’s draft Crime Fund Policy Plan 2026, a 14-page document that presents the first policy plan of its kind for the Crime Fund. The plan states that as of May 31, 2026, after reconciliation, the Crime Fund held a total balance of XCG 4,156,388.53. For 2026, the Ministry proposes allocations totaling XCG 1,196,100 across projects involving the Immigration and Border Protection Service, the Court of Guardianship, the Public Prosecutor and the Ministry of Justice itself.

The central message of the plan, though still a draft, is clear: if St. Maarten wants to reduce crime, part of the answer must come before a young person reaches the courtroom, the detention system or the point of repeat offending.

In her message at the start of the plan, Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling frames crime prevention as work that begins much earlier than arrest, prosecution or incarceration. She places that work in classrooms, homes, communities and other places where young people may begin drifting toward criminal activity. The Minister describes the Fund’s 2026 direction as an upstream approach, aimed at youth and communities most at risk of sliding into crime.

That policy direction gives the Crime Fund a broader social purpose. It is not being positioned only as a law-enforcement support fund. It is being presented as a tool for early intervention, skills development, diversion, therapy, mentorship, cultural engagement, employment readiness and second-chance programming.

The plan also acknowledges that the 2026 document is only a starting point. It says a fuller governance structure and handbook are being developed to guide the future use of the Fund, including procedures for submissions, tenders, procurement, accounting, oversight and reporting. That is important because the Fund has existed for years, but the plan makes clear that greater clarity has been requested on how it can serve the wider community and how stakeholders can access it.

A fund created to combat and prevent crime

The Crime Fund is rooted in the National Ordinance establishing a crime-combating fund for St. Maarten. The purpose of the Fund is to finance projects aimed at combating and preventing crime. Under the legal framework described in the plan, the Minister of Justice manages the Fund, while day-to-day operations are entrusted to the Head of the Judicial Affairs Department under the Minister’s supervision.

The plan states that when the Ministry submits its annual operating budget, the Minister must also submit a policy plan identifying the projects eligible for Crime Fund financing in that budget year. The 2026 plan is therefore intended to accompany the Ministry’s annual operating budget and be submitted to Parliament.

The document links the Fund to the governing program for 2024 to 2028, which identifies national safety and security, strengthened law enforcement, improved border protection and crime prevention as key priorities. It also ties the Fund to the Ministry’s stated mission of building a fairer and more effective justice system.

In practical terms, this means the Ministry wants the Fund to support public safety beyond arrests and enforcement. The 2026 plan points toward prevention, rehabilitation, community support and early intervention as the areas where Crime Fund money will be concentrated.

Youth at the center of the 2026 plan

The main concern identified for 2026 is at-risk youth. The Ministry says the Fund will mainly support community-based projects focused on social development, skills development, job-market training and diversion and rehabilitation programs for first-time minor offenders.

The specific areas of concern include directing resources toward youth and communities at risk of sliding into crime, strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors, increasing citizen involvement in crime prevention, combating human trafficking, demonstrating responsible use of the Fund and improving efficiency under St. Maarten’s financial accountability rules.

The plan presents five strategic priorities for the Ministry’s Crime Fund vision: engaging youth programs, building quality environments where communities can thrive, outreach and awareness, professionalizing the justice chain, and providing protection and care to those affected by crime.

The repeated theme is that prevention must be treated as part of justice policy. The Ministry is not only looking at how to respond when a crime has already occurred. It is looking at how to interrupt the path toward crime before young people become deeper involved in the justice system.

XCG 1.19 million in proposed 2026 allocations

The proposed 2026 project assignments total XCG 1,196,100. The largest share, XCG 529,000, falls under the Ministry of Justice’s own project portfolio. The Court of Guardianship is allocated XCG 489,000. The Public Prosecutor is allocated XCG 143,100. The Immigration and Border Protection Service is allocated XCG 35,000.

Together, these projects represent less than one-third of the reconciled Crime Fund balance reported as of May 31, 2026. The plan also says the Ministry may conduct rolling reviews of allocated funds and adjust the amounts if necessary, depending on total project requests for the year.

That detail leaves room for changes as the year progresses. However, the projects named in the plan already show the Ministry’s intended direction: youth diversion, rehabilitation, practical skills, cultural discipline, entrepreneurship, job training, mentoring and institutional strengthening.

Immigration and Border Protection: professionalization and crisis response

The Immigration and Border Protection Service is listed for XCG 35,000. The allocation is aimed at professionalization in jurisprudence, technology, human rights and crisis response.

The expected outputs include training programs, courses and certifications. The stated benefits include learning and knowledge development, building expertise, job enrichment and strengthening administrative resilience to prevent crime.

Compared to the other projects in the plan, this allocation is small. Still, it fits within the Ministry’s broader goal of professionalizing the justice chain. Border protection is one of the government’s identified safety priorities, and the plan treats staff capacity and training as part of crime prevention.

Court of Guardianship: diversion, therapy and restorative justice

The Court of Guardianship receives the second-largest proposed allocation, XCG 489,000. Its projects are among the clearest examples of the Ministry’s prevention and rehabilitation focus.

The first allocation, XCG 50,000, is for insurance coverage and proper attire for minors performing community service. The project includes a blanket insurance policy, proper work clothing and personal protection gear. The plan says this will ensure safety, visibility and dignity for minors during public tasks, reduce liability concerns for the Ministry and strengthen the reputation of the community service program.

That may appear administrative, but it speaks to a practical challenge in juvenile justice. If minors are expected to perform community service as part of accountability or rehabilitation, the system must protect them and ensure the work is organized responsibly.

The second Court of Guardianship project is XCG 45,000 for equine therapy for minor offenders who display aggression, trauma-related symptoms or emotional instability due to difficult life experiences. The plan says the program will deliver tailored behavioral therapy engagements so minors receive interventions aligned with their emotional and behavioral needs. It also notes that youth probation officers would be able to make consistent referrals as part of a structured rehabilitation program.

The third project is Project Singh, a collaborative pilot initiative between the National Institute for Professional Advancement and the Court of Guardianship’s Youth Probation Department. It is allocated XCG 44,000. The project includes a 40-hour general property maintenance course and supervised community service. Its purpose is to transform community service into a pathway for learning and empowerment. The plan says it will equip participants with employable skills, reinforce accountability and support restorative justice.

The largest Court of Guardianship allocation is XCG 350,000 for a two-year pilot Halt-type diversion program for first-time and minor juvenile offenders. This project could become one of the more significant justice reforms in the plan. It includes the development and implementation of a pilot diversion framework within an existing justice-chain institution, a procedural manual and referral mechanism in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office, police and schools, additional staffing for counseling and monitoring, youth-focused corrective sessions, community service, behavioral workshops, draft legislation and standard operating procedures.

The stated benefits are broad. The program is intended to provide an early-intervention alternative to prosecution for minors, reduce recidivism and court caseloads, strengthen restorative justice and community rehabilitation, improve coordination between justice, education and social sectors, and lay the legal and operational foundation for a national diversion policy.

If implemented properly, this could move St. Maarten closer to a more structured juvenile diversion model, where first-time or minor offenders are not automatically pushed deeper into the criminal justice system. Instead, they would be redirected through corrective, educational and community-based interventions.

Public Prosecutor: youth gun violence intervention

The Public Prosecutor’s allocation is XCG 143,100 for “Voices over Violence: Youth Gun Violence Intervention.”

The project is designed to mentor youth and help them turn their ideas into concrete actions. It includes the establishment of a youth empowerment hub, described as a safe creative space for young people.

The plan describes the hub as an environment where ideas can be born, tested and implemented, turning creativity into action. It also says the project uses a hackathon-style structure, where youth are treated not as part of the problem, but as co-creators of the solution.

The proposal includes a stipend of US $400 per month for each participant, intended to address immediate needs and foster a sense of earning an honest living. The plan says that when young people feel seen, heard and empowered, the need to seek identity through harmful pathways diminishes.

This project is one of the clearest acknowledgements in the plan that crime prevention is not only about warning young people away from violence. It is also about giving them a place, a voice, a role and a practical path toward belonging.

Ministry of Justice projects: sailing, martial arts, steel pan, entrepreneurship and construction

The Ministry of Justice’s own allocation totals XCG 529,000 and covers five projects. These projects focus mostly on skills, discipline, employment, culture and reintegration.

The largest single project under the Ministry is the Justice/VSA Construction Skills Training for Employment in St. Maarten’s Infrastructure Growth, budgeted at XCG 120,000. It is a seven-month program involving recruitment, screening, outreach, selection and orientation. The plan says the program will serve 20 to 30 participants per cycle and help them acquire construction fundamentals and connect to real employment opportunities.

The project targets unemployed young men, especially those with criminal records, and seeks to equip them with practical construction skills so they can participate in infrastructure work scheduled for 2026 and beyond. The plan mentions potential work environments including NRPB-led public infrastructure works, gym and facility renovations, the Emergency Operations Center construction, the new Mental Health Facility and the planned library.

The second-largest Ministry project is Rhythm Against Crime: Notes of Hope, budgeted at XCG 126,000. It provides 10 months of steel pan lessons, calypso singing, songwriting and group performances. Sessions are scheduled twice weekly for two hours. The plan says the program provides supervised, structured engagement for at-risk youth and offers constructive outlets for energy and talent.

Its intended benefits include responsibility, teamwork, self-discipline, positive peer interaction, mentorship, community cohesion and cultural education. The use of steel pan and calypso is notable because it places crime prevention within cultural development, not just social control.

The Kids-At-Sea Sailing Training program is allocated XCG 112,000. It targets at-risk or under-employed young adults between 18 and 30 who are recently out of school in St. Maarten. The program includes a structured skills-based curriculum, job assistance for entry into the maritime sector, basic seamanship and three internationally recognized certifications: STWC-2010, 15m Powerboat and Engineer Grade 1.

The plan says the program is intended to help individuals who may have had contact with the law develop valuable job-market skills, build workplace habits, use time productively and reduce the likelihood of involvement in criminal activity due to limited opportunities or idleness.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program, “Roll to Rise,” is allocated XCG 81,000. It is a pilot initiative for at-risk children in St. Maarten. The program begins with two months of introductory classes during school gym sessions, followed by a six-month after-school program. It is expected to train 60 to 80 youth in three age groups: 7 to 9, 10 to 13 and 14 to 16. The plan says the program blends martial arts instruction with guided discussions and mentorship.

The expected outcomes include character building, increased school attendance and engagement, reduced behavioral incidents and peer conflict, improved physical fitness, mental focus and discipline, and stronger family and community support networks.

The final Ministry project is the Justice/VSA Second Chance Builders: Entrepreneurial Training and Reintegration Program for Young Men in St. Maarten, budgeted at XCG 90,000. It targets young men with criminal records and focuses on resume writing, job readiness, business startup knowledge, confidence in dealing with employers and institutions, entrepreneurial skills, life skills, discipline and purpose.

The plan says 15 to 25 participants will be supported in transforming past challenges into sustainable futures. It also says the program will provide mentorship and role models from the local business community, support participants in launching or formalizing micro-enterprises and reduce recidivism by promoting positive community contribution.

A notable move toward second chances

Across the plan, one point is hard to miss: the Ministry is making a direct link between crime prevention and opportunity.

Several projects are not simply about telling young people what not to do. They offer alternatives: a construction path, maritime certification, entrepreneurship training, steel pan and calypso, martial arts discipline, therapy, property maintenance, community service, diversion and mentorship.

That reflects a justice policy view that unemployment, idleness, trauma, lack of structure and weak support systems can contribute to crime risk. The plan does not excuse crime, but it does recognize that prevention has to be practical. A young person needs somewhere to go, something to learn, someone to guide them and a reason to believe that a lawful path can lead somewhere.

The plan also gives attention to young people who have already come into contact with the justice system. That is important. Crime prevention is not only about those who have never offended. It is also about preventing reoffending and giving first-time or minor offenders a realistic chance to change direction before their record, reputation and opportunities are permanently damaged.

Governance remains the key test

While the policy direction is clear, the success of the plan will depend on governance, implementation and reporting.

The plan itself acknowledges that a more detailed governance framework and handbook are still under development. It says these will include procedures for project submissions, tenders, procurement, accounting and other administrative requirements, and are intended to inform the 2027 policy plan.

That means 2026 will function as both a funding year and a test year. The Ministry will have to show that projects are selected fairly, money is disbursed responsibly, outcomes are measured and the public can understand what the Fund achieved.

The plan says approved projects will be subject to formal engagement procedures, financial oversight, procurement requirements and annual reporting obligations under applicable national accountability and procurement regulations. It also says the Ministry may use trusted third parties for oversight.

The Crime Fund must not become simply a list of good intentions. The public will need to know whether the programs actually started, how many young people participated, how many completed the programs, what skills or certifications were achieved, whether participants found employment, whether young offenders avoided reoffending and whether the projects were properly accounted for.

Transparency and public awareness

The plan repeatedly references transparency, public duty and stakeholder awareness. It states that many organizations have constructive ideas to support the Ministry’s work and may not know how to access the Fund or submit initiatives for consideration.

That is one of the most important areas for improvement. If the Crime Fund is to become a real community crime-prevention tool, organizations must understand how to apply, what criteria will be used, what reporting standards are required and how decisions will be made.

The plan lists long-term sustainability as a priority. This includes strengthening the Fund’s revenue base, replenishing disbursements, establishing clear procedures, professionalizing administration, creating an operational manual and communicating clearly about the Fund and its supported projects.

In other words, the Ministry is not only trying to spend Crime Fund money in 2026. It is also trying to build a system around the Fund so it can be used more consistently in future years.

A shift in justice thinking

The 2026 Crime Fund Policy Plan marks a shift in how the Ministry of Justice is framing crime prevention. It does not abandon enforcement, prosecution or detention. Those remain parts of the justice system. But it makes the case that prevention must begin earlier and closer to the community.

That approach is visible in the choice of projects. A martial arts mat, a steel pan class, a sailing course, construction training, entrepreneurship support, equine therapy and a diversion program may look very different from traditional crime-fighting measures. But the Ministry’s argument is that these interventions may reach young people before the justice system has to deal with them more severely.

The plan also sends a message about how government views at-risk youth. It describes them not simply as a threat, but as young people who can be redirected if the right structures exist. That message matters in a small country, where the loss of even a small number of young people to crime, violence or repeat offending has wide social consequences.

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