Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is calling for dog owners to have their animals spayed or neutered as one measure to reduce attacks on members of the public. He made the call while closing the debate on the Dogs (Liability for Attacks) Act, 2020 during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 27). Spaying involves sterilising...

The Judiciary, on October 29, announced findings from the Mental Health (Offenders) Inquiry Committee Report, including the main recommendation to effect the statutory revocation of indefinite detention. The Mental Health (Offenders) Inquiry Committee was commissioned in June to assess how the court treats with the mentally ill or disordered in conflict with the law, being detained in correctional institutions for...

The Victim Services Division (VSD) in the Ministry of Justice continues to provide much-needed psychosocial support to victims of crime in Jamaica, through its e-counselling facility. E-counselling was introduced as a way to continue to reach victims in light of the restrictions on face-to-face contact due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Of the 823 clients seen by the VSD in...

Director of the Victim Services Division (VSD), Osbourne Bailey, is reminding the public that there is no statute of limitations for victims of crimes needing support. Persons who are primary, secondary and tertiary victims of crimes, despite how long ago it may have been committed, can still access the services of the Division. Mr. Bailey told JIS News that persons...

Custos of St. James, Bishop the Hon. Conrad Pitkin, is advising Justices of the Peace (JPs) not to conduct duties that require face-to- face interaction if they are experiencing any respiratory symptoms. “Let us not provide service in those instances,” he urged, adding that persons with symptoms such as cough or fever, must quarantine themselves. Bishop Pitkin, who was addressing...

The Ministry of Justice, on Thursday (October 22), convened its first virtual Justices of the Peace (JP) sensitisation session for approximately 150 JPs from Trelawny, St Ann and St Mary. The sessions are part of ongoing training to equip the JPs to cope with the continued demand for justice services in their communities. In his remarks, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy...

The Ministry of Justice is looking to establish a restorative justice centre in Greenwich Farm, St. Andrew, to serve members of that community and surrounding areas. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, during today’s (October 21) Access to Justice Virtual Town Hall Meeting. He informed that 15 community members have signalled their willingness to receive training as...

The Ministry of Justice’s Victim Services Division (VSD) has received play therapy tools from the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation to be used as therapeutic aides in the recovery process for children who are victims of crime. The provisions, valued $1 million, include books, dolls, and puppets that will be used to outfit the play therapy area at a VSD service...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck says the Government is working towards introducing virtual hearings and trials in the criminal justice system, as well as installing smartboards in lockups. He said the installation of smartboards will facilitate the participation of persons in police lockups in virtual hearings and trials, without the need to physically transport them to court. “We are working with...