The Government has set aside a total of $115 million to the Justice, Security, Accountability, and Transparency (JSAT) Project in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure. The project seeks to improve the standard of living and quality of life of Jamaican citizens by strengthening governance and oversight, with particular regard to the functioning of the justice system. Of the sum, $72...

The Government has allocated a total of $203 million for the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) programme in the Ministry of Justice. As outlined in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the project seeks to: improve service delivery and management capacity of justice sector institutions; improve the capacity of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)...

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...