Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is encouraging citizens to utilise appropriate conflict resolution measures, pointing out that resorting to violence only heightens heated situations. “There is no reason for us to be using rage, abuses, threats, violence, and sometimes fatal violence, to solve our problems. Far too many Jamaicans feel that unless they deliver the ‘last lick’, then there...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is pushing restorative justice (RJ) as a way of resolving conflicts among students before they descend to fights. The Minister said he has seen videos of students involved in violent conflicts, and their peers seem to be more interested in recording these incidents for social media postings rather than encouraging a peaceful resolution. “It...

The Child Diversion Programme in the Ministry of Justice is achieving “tremendous success” in steering young people away from the criminal justice system, says portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck. He noted that of the just over 1,000 cases referred to the programme by the courts since the operationalisation of the programme in 2020, more than 50 per cent of them...

Approximately 30,000 additional students, parents, and educators from 500 public schools are to be trained in restorative justice practices this fiscal year. Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure during her contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 17). In May 2022, the Ministries of Education, and Justice signed...

The Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica (LMAJ) says significant strides have been made to help reduce the backlog of cases in courts at the parish level.   Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the agency’s regional office in Montego Bay, St. James, on May 9, Former President of the LMAJ, Claudette Bryan, said since the Association was...

Debate on a Bill that will address legal and practical concerns for the Independent Commission of Investigations commenced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 10). The Independent Commission of Investigations (Amendment) Bill, 2023 will indemnify and validate certain actions, done in good faith, by the agency, its employees, and the Commissioner. The Bill was piloted in the House...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the Courts have been performing and improving in the delivery of justice. “In the Parish Courts, they have not only reduced the backlog of cases but 95 per cent of the cases are tried within 24 months, which means that the backlog is less than five per cent. I must say 90 per...