The Restorative Justice (RJ) Programme has a success rate of approximately 80 per cent for matters referred by the courts, communities, schools, and police. Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, made the disclosure in a statement to the House of Representatives on Wednesday (November 8). “Over 200 RJ Facilitators are available to help the public and are situated right across...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, on Wednesday (November 8) tabled a copy of the Restorative Justice Policy Green Paper in the House of Representatives. Restorative Justice (RJ) has been one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry since its inception. It has proven to be an effective tool for conflict resolution and repairing broken relationships. In his remarks, Mr....

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has called on Parliament to quickly pass legislation that will increase the penalty for murder. “There are, before us, amendments to legislation, which will increase penalties for such criminal terrorists... . I urge the house to pass these amendments forthwith before the year is out,” he said. The Prime Minister was speaking in...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has called on Justices of the Peace (JPs) to lead the charge in fostering a more empathetic and gentle society in Jamaica. Mr. Chuck expressed the view that most JPs are inherently “kind and loving” individuals who possess the qualities needed, to help combat the growing issues of incivility and aggression plaguing society. “The...

The Restorative Justice (RJ) Programme is being hailed for creating a paradigm shift in conflict resolution by one of its recent trainees. Between August and October, the Justice Ministry trained more than 200 Jamaicans in RJ Practices, equipping them with the tools needed to help prevent and to effectively manage conflict. Retired Educator, Beulett Hunter, who has been trained in...

The Legal Aid Council (LAC) has placed increased focus on matters before the courts involving inmates who are deemed mentally challenged. Executive Director, Dian Watson, said the LAC has been working to prioritise vulnerable groups. “Some of them have been lost in the system. Currently, we have a little over 300 of them, those who are awaiting trial because they...

The Legal Aid Council (LAC) is reiterating its commitment to providing access to Justice Services for vulnerable Jamaicans, with its continued focus on persons living with disabilities (PWDs). Executive Director of the LAC, Dian Watson, says the vision of the Council is to be able to reach everyone, and this includes the disabled community. “We have been working very hard...

The Legal Aid Council (LAC) has been prioritising inclusive justice for all Jamaicans. Through the mobile justice unit, the Council has not only been reaching rural areas, but also impacting the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable individuals. “We started this year, going to persons who have been unable to come to us. We have been assisting...

The Legal Aid Council (LAC) says that matters discussed with persons utilising the entity’s services are kept strictly confidential between attorneys and their clients. Executive Director, Dian Watson, said, in some cases, persons can be apprehensive about sharing details on the LAC’s mobile units. “We’ve found that mostly women will come on the bus. Men, especially in the inner cities,...