The Restorative Justice (RJ) Branch in the Ministry of Justice is encouraging Jamaicans of reputable character with a passion for nation-building to sign up to become RJ facilitators. Restorative justice seeks to resolve conflicts by having all parties involved in a matter come together to reach an agreement. The aim is to repair the harm caused by the offence, holding...

Government’s investment in the transformation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), with measures put in place to strengthen investigation and policing methods, not only aims to improve crimefighting but to build the confidence of citizens in policing. National Security Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, in making the point in an interview with JIS News, noted that earning the trust of...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the work of the Office of the Political Ombudsman would be strengthened by having the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) with nine individuals drawn from different segments of the society so engaged, versus the retention of a single person in that Office. “This approach will allow for a more fulsome examination of the matters...

The Restorative Justice (RJ) Branch in the Ministry of Justice will be partnering with the Domestic Outreach Team of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to undertake a major sensitisation activity in downtown Kington as part of the Restorative Justice Week. RJ Week will be observed from Sunday (February 4) to Sunday (February 11) under the theme ‘Transformation, Peace and Harmony...

This year’s 15th staging of Restorative Justice Week takes place from February 4 to 11 under the theme ‘Transformation, Peace and Harmony through Restorative Justice’. The event is being hosted by the Restorative Justice Branch under the Ministry of Justice. Branch Director, Joanalee Robertson, told a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on Monday (January 29) that the activities will...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has charged 28 newly appointed Justices of the Peace (JPs) for St James to play their part in ensuring the security and well-being of the nation. The JPs were commissioned during a ceremony at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, on Wednesday (January 17). Minister Chuck attributed the rise in crime...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says harsher penalties are coming for persons who commit murder. He was opening Tuesday’s (January 16) debate in the House of Representatives on the Joint Select Committee report, which reviewed the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act 2023, Criminal Justice (Administration) (Amendment) Act 2023 and Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Act 2023. Mr. Chuck noted...

Chief Justice, Hon. Bryan Sykes, says International Organization of Standardization (ISO) certification is being pursued for some processes within the courts. “Again, it’s holding ourselves to international standards because what the ISO certification will do is force us to document our processes, publicise them, police them internally, because when you receive the certification, you want to maintain it,” he told...

Jamaica’s courts continue to make progress in clearing case backlogs, says Chief Justice, Hon. Bryan Sykes. In the Court of Appeal, for every 100 cases that come in, approximately 111 cases are disposed of, he noted. “According to the statisticians, if you maintain that for about three years, then that becomes your new baseline from which you can push on...