The Department of Correctional Services will be launching a new programme to treat sex offenders in the next fiscal year.

The programme is aimed at preventing recidivism.

Speaking with reporters following the opening of the new Montego Bay Probation Office at the weekend, Commissioner of Corrections, Brigadier Radgh Mason highlighted the wide scope of the programme.

Meanwhile, Registrar of the Sex Offenders Registry, Melissa Dobson, noted that there are 502 sex offenders on the registry.

Responding to questions about the registry being made public, she explained that several factors must be assessed before this is done.