Professor Corin Bailey

Publication/source: Fuelling the Development of a Caribbean Criminology, Volume II …, 2026

Description / abstract: This study seeks to examine risk factors for engagement in drug and alcohol usage among school children in the Caribbean. Data were derived from a survey which was administered to Form 4 and 5 school children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (N = 1491), Tobago (N = 777) and St. Kitts and Nevis (N = 767) in 2023. Twenty-six risk factors in the individual, family, peer, school and community domains were examined. Ordinary least squares regression was used to examine the relationship between the risk factors and drug and alcohol usage. The study provides estimates of the level of drug and alcohol usage among school children and revealed that the most important predictors of drug and alcohol usage among the sample were the intention to use drugs, low self-control, having antisocial peers, experiencing family abuse and experiencing family problems. The results will be discussed in the context of …

Publication/source: The Routledge Companion to Gender and Crime, 2025

Description / abstract: In the Caribbean, the issue of gangs and criminal activity has long been a major concern. Data from the most recent Latin American Public Opinion Poll survey, for example, show that the proportion of respondents who indicated that there were criminal gangs in their neighborhoods ranged from a low of 6.7% in Grenada to a high of 23.6% in The Bahamas (see Figure 7.1). The data in Table 7.1 show the number of gangs and gang members in Caribbean countries, with the number of gangs being lower in countries such as Guyana, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda, and higher in The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago. Figure 7.2 shows the proportion of school youth who self-reported that they were gang members. With the exception of The Bahamas, the data is derived from Katz et al.(2023), who collected data from a sample of over 18,000 Form 5 youth (equivalent to Grade 10 in the United States) in 306 schools in the Caribbean region. The lowest levels of gang membership were found in Antigua and Barbuda (6%) and St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN)(7%), while the highest levels were found in St. Lucia (18%) and Dominica (20%).

Publication/source: Gender-Based Violence in the Global South, 184-202, 2024

Description / abstract: Intimate partner violence represents a serious problem in the Caribbean as large numbers of women and girls are affected annually. Despite this, examinations into the impact of intimate partner violence on Caribbean female populations have thus far been sparse. Using survey data from the Inter-American Development Bank’s 2018 and 2019 Surveys of Women’s Health, this chapter uses multiple regression analysis to examine the impact of intimate partner violence on women’s health in Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Whether educational attainment and socioeconomic status serve to mitigate the negative impact of intimate partner violence on women’s health is also examined. The results show that physical and psychological intimate partner violence, as well as intimate partner violence during pregnancy, have an impact on several dimensions of women’s health. The moderating impact on the Intimate …

Publication/source: Prospects and Challenges for Caribbean Societies in and Beyond COVID-19, 215-233, 2024

Description / abstract: This study examines changes in crime victimization levels which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and argues that observed changes may be related to changes in social solidarity which could have occurred as a result of the pandemic. The data sources include pre- and during-COVID-19 victimization surveys which were administered in Guyana and St. Lucia, as well as official crime data. Victimization survey data show a consistent decline in personal as well as household crime victimization in St. Lucia during the pandemic. Official crime data show similar declines. In Guyana, however, victimization survey data as well as official crime data show no changes during the pandemic. We also examined several measures of social solidarity and found that there was an increase in solidarity in St. Lucia after the pandemic. In contrast, the results show that there was no change in social solidarity in Guyana. The …

Publication/source: Food & Agriculture Org., 2024

Description / abstract: Environmental shocks and stresses directly affect livelihoods in rural communities reliant on agriculture and fisheries, making the income-poor and those facing inequality especially vulnerable. The complex relationships between the environment, climate change, and agriculture can lead to food insecurity, poverty, and inequality, underscoring the need for better-informed policies and effective programmes. In the Caribbean, poverty is often hidden, particularly in middle-to high-income countries, where inequalities and deprivations hinder efforts to tackle climate change, resource degradation, and access to sustainable food. However, there is insufficient data for poverty analysis in the agricultural and environmental sectors, especially for marginalized populations. This report examines the links between rural inequality, food security, agriculture, and the environment in Barbados and Grenada. It highlights the importance of physical, financial, human, and social assets for sustainable livelihoods. Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study uses in-depth interviews to offer policy recommendations aimed at improving access to assets and enhancing the resilience of farmers and fisherfolk, supporting social mobility and protection against future crises.