Rondel Fonrose

Beyond Bars: Recidivism as a Public Health Crisis Public Health  •  Criminal Justice Reform  •  Community Equity Policy & Public Health Beyond Bars: Recidivism Is a Public Health Crisis Reducing reoffending demands more than tougher supervision. It demands a clear look at the structural forces shaping lives long before and long after incarceration. February 2026 8 min read Reentry & Reform Reducing recidivism requires more than supervision strategies or punitive reforms. It requires understanding how social determinants of health shape outcomes long before and long after incarceration. Individuals returning from correctional settings often reenter communities facing housing instability, unemployment, limited health care access, and fragmented social support. These structural barriers...

Introduction: The Burnout Conversation We're Not Having We discuss burnout frequently. Yet these talks usually stop at well-known but limited tips: try harder to care for yourself, take holidays when you can, or build inner strength. Such suggestions tend to fail - mainly because they overlook underlying structural causes driving the issue. New studies plus insights from specialists show something key: exhaustion at work isn't about weak coping skills - it’s a common reaction to deeper organizational problems. This strain stems from broken structures, not personal failure. This paper looks at five key findings from current research - each revealing unexpected insights into why workplace fatigue keeps getting worse. By shifting perspective, these results suggest fresh ways to tackle ongoing energy loss in professional settings. 1. Takeaway 1: Burnout Isn't Just Feeling Tired - It Can Fundamentally Change How You See the World. The usual idea of burnout involves tiredness in ...

Trinidad and Tobago stands at a defining crossroads in its pursuit of justice and social transformation. The nation’s current challenges within its correctional and social systems call for more than punitive measures. They call for a shift toward restoration, healing, and accountability. At the centre of this evolution lies restorative justice, a philosophy that reimagines wrongdoing not as an act against the state, but as harm done to people, relationships, and communities. This approach represents a departure from retribution and instead embraces repair. It seeks to humanize justice by fostering dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation among those affected by harm. In doing so, restorative justice promotes a vision where safety and dignity coexist, where justice is not the end of a process but the beginning of transformation. For many justice involved individuals in Trinidad and Tobago, reintegration remains one of the most critical challenges following incarceration. Barriers suc...

  Bridging the Gap:‍ Community Par‍t​nerships and S​econd Chances When someone leaves prison, the⁠ conversation changes. Ou​tsi​de th‌ese wal‍ls,​ people aren't j‌ust thinking about punishment and de⁠terrence — t‌hey're thi⁠nkin​g a‍bout whethe⁠r this p‌erson d‌eserves a second chanc​e. And that‌'s where t⁠he r‍eal t⁠est begins. In Tr‍inidad a​nd T​obago, like‍ much o⁠f t⁠he Ca⁠rib⁠bea‌n, we've f⁠ocused heavi​ly on​ what happe‌ns inside c⁠orrecti​onal facilities. But the trut‍h is, reintegration —⁠ the journey from incarceration back into comm‍unity — is wh‍ere rehabilitati‍on eit⁠h‌er succeeds or fai‌ls. It's not j‌ust about​ g‍ettin​g released. It's about restoring dignity‍, rebuild‌ing trust, and actual‌l​y​ ha‌ving a sho‍t at a normal life. The Invisible​ W​eight P​e‌op⁠le Carry The b​ig‌ges​t barrie‍r to reinte​gration i⁠sn't​ fin‍ding a jo⁠b o‍r se‍curing housin‍g.‌ It'​s stigma. ​ Once⁠ some⁠one has served time, they carry a label that doesn...

  When we discuss crime, we tend to focus on the crime — the stealing, the beating, the trial — but not often do we discuss that which precipitated it. We don’t tend to address the deeper roots that fester out of sight beneath the surface: poor economics, abandonment, and lack of options. Having worked directly with those in the justice system, I have witnessed firsthand that most crimes aren’t a product of evil intentions — desperation, survival, and being cut adrift. Poverty isn’t just being broke. It’s restricted access to education, medical care, and a stable home. It’s parents working two or three jobs just to get by, children being raised without direction or positive influences, and whole families functioning out of desperation. Long enough, it toughens a person. It watches hope, and once hope goes, in comes the thinking of “nothing to lose,” that’s when you get crime to take its place. I've encountered individuals who did what they did not do out of malice, but out of seein...

  "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."  - Winston Churchill. Working in social services has shown me that communities transform when people unite with a shared purpose. Across our twin-island republic, everyday acts of generosity create waves of change that reach far beyond what we might imagine. Through my experience supporting diverse populations and navigating complex social systems, I've learned that strategic giving isn't just about charity—it's about building the foundation for lasting community resilience. Why Your Contribution Matters More Than Ever Trinidad and Tobago face persistent social and economic challenges, but there is tremendous potential for positive transformation within these difficulties. Our not-for-profit sector operates as more than a collection of charitable organizations—it serves as the backbone supporting vulnerable populations and creating pathways out of disadvantage. The regulatory framework suppor...