305 Referrals To National Child Diversion Programme

The Justice Ministry is reporting that 305 children have been referred to the National Child Diversion Programme since its implementation in March 2020.

The programme involves implementing measures to divert children, who come into conflict with the law, away from the formal criminal justice system.

It is in line with the country’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child to reduce the number of children institutionalised.

Addressing a JIS Think Tank on Thursday (March 18), Portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, said that the Ministry continues to build the capacity of personnel to deliver the programme, particularly given the challenges caused by the pandemic.

“Recently, we completed the training of trainers, equipping child diversion personnel as trainers, who will in turn prepare stakeholders who can work with the children referred to the programme, in order to ensure its sustainability,” he said.

He told JIS News that efforts are being made to sensitise members of law-enforcement and the court system about child diversion.

“Over the past few weeks into months, we have met with the commissioner of police and his senior officers to encourage them to speak to their various parish commanders. This to ensure that where children get into conflict with the law, if it is a minor breach, we refer these children to the child diversion offices,” he said.

He noted that “where the offence is serious and [child offenders] are taken to court, we actually urge the court if it is at all possible, rather than pursuing the charges against them, to refer them to child diversion. Over the past few weeks we have met with all or most of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges in one training session, and in another session we have met with over 50 parish court judges to inform them about the programme”.

Minister Chuck said that the public is also being educated about how child diversion works and what has been accomplished so far under the initiative.

“We want to go into the schools and communities where children are in conflict and are on the verge of deviancy and delinquency, to have these children referred to us at the child diversion offices. We are committed to saving our children and ensuring that they are diverted away from delinquent activities. We are committed to letting our children lead clean, disciplined and upright lives,” he noted.

So far under the programme, the Ministry of Justice has established child diversion offices at justice centres across the island, with two independent offices in Clarendon and St. Catherine.

A total of 13 child diversion committees have also been established, one for each parish, with one committee serving the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew.

A national oversight committee was also set up in addition to an active mentorship programme with more than 420 trained mentors.

Critical to the programme was the execution of a national education campaign on the child Diversion Act and other core modules.

Several partnerships and agreements were also established with key stakeholders to treat with children referred to the programme.

These involve the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF); more than 20 mental health professionals, including psychologists, counsellors and social workers; the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA); the Ministry of Health and Wellness through its child guidance clinics; the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; and police youth clubs and churches.