A child-friendly space has been established at the Victim Services Branch (VSB) office in Mandeville, Manchester under the United States (U.S.)- Jamaica Child Protection Compact Partnership. A child-friendly space is an environment designed to help children who are victims of crime to feel safe, calm, and comfortable while interacting with professionals, including law enforcement officers, social workers, healthcare professionals and...

The New Social Justice Division within the Justice Ministry has been working to deliver healing and create a culture of peace by increasing access to Alternative Justice Services (AJS). The Division is a one-stop shop, housing three critical branches of the Ministry, namely Restorative Justice (RJ), Child Diversion and Victim Services, which members of the public can access free of...

Cabinet has approved an annual subvention to Justice of the Peace (JP) Associations. This is intended to better coordinate the organisations’ assistance to the Ministry of Justice in delivering client services across Jamaica. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, made the disclosure during Thursday’s (August 10) commissioning ceremony for 93 new JPs for the parish of St. Catherine, at the New...

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (July 25), approved amendments to the Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Act, to bring an end to locking up children who have not committed a criminal offence but who have been deemed uncontrollable. Amendment of the Act includes the repeal of Section 24 (2), which will enable Jamaica to become compliant with obligations under...

The amendment to the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) will create a “kinder and gentler environment” for Jamaican children, says Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams. Among other things, she noted that children with behavioural challenges will be assessed by competent behavioural specialists. “A care plan will be agreed [on], having regard to the results of a...

Jamaicans are being urged to make a will to prevent family members from fighting over ‘dead leff,’ and to ease the burden on the Administrator General's Department (AGD).  Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, in making the appeal, said that the AGD, which is the entity responsible for handling the estates of persons, who die without making a will, is...

The Ministry of Justice, through its Restorative Justice Unit, is carrying out training sessions with faith-based groups in St. James, which will empower members to promote restorative justice practices in their communities. One of the more recent sessions took place at the Lighthouse of Faith Ministries International Church where more than 20 leaders and members representing the communities of Lilliput,...