The Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) III is set to receive a cash injection of $145 million to carry out its work during the new fiscal year. As outlined in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on February 19, the money will go towards enhancing citizen security and justice in targeted communities, through the...

Regulations guaranteeing automatic removal of an offender’s criminal record for convictions relating to the smoking or possession of small quantities of ganja are currently being drafted by the Ministry of Justice. This is one of several key provisions being facilitated under the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Act 2014, which came into effect in October last year. Providing details...

A Bill which seeks to decriminalize ganja for medicinal, religious, and private/personal use was tabled in the Senate, on January 23. The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2015, was laid on the table by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding. The amendments will make the possession of small quantities of ganja, amounting to two ounces or less, a non-arrestable...

Debate on the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to introduce significant reforms in the justice system, was suspended in the Senate, on January 23. Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, explained that this was due to concerns raised by Senators on certain sections of the Bill. “I have listened to the points made in the debate and I...

The Government intends to embark on a public education campaign to discourage the use of ganja among specific groups in society. Among those to be targeted are: adolescents, persons with mental disorders, pregnant women and other vulnerable persons. This campaign is to be supported from a portion of the revenues anticipated from the establishment of a new licensing regime for...

The Court Management Services (CMS) wishes to advise members of the public that one of the elevators which was out of service at the Supreme Court Building, is now working. This following extensive repairs carried out by technicians to address the malfunction. The CMS will continue to monitor and address the infrastructural needs of the courts through its general maintenance...

A Cannabis Licensing Authority is to be established to regulate the proposed hemp and medicinal ganja industry in Jamaica. This is one of the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2015, which is expected to be tabled in the Senate on Friday, January 23. The Bill seeks to decriminalize ganja for medicinal, religious, and private/personal use. Making the disclosure...