The Ministry of Justice is looking to increase the number of officers and mentors serving the Child Diversion Programme. The initiative, which aims to direct children aged 12 to 17 away from the criminal justice system, was operationalised in 2020, following the passage of the Child Diversion Act, 2018. Making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of...

The Ministry of Justice received 2,322 applications for the expungement of criminal records last year. Making his contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 2, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, said of that amount, the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Board approved 1,200 applications. “When people apply, they expect that within days or weeks...

Jamaicans are being encouraged to report acts of corruption or improper conduct within their respective organisations, under the Protected Disclosures Act, 2011.  “The Protected Disclosures Act, 2011, is here to protect you. In the event that you have identified any improper conduct within your entity and you decide to speak up, you will be protected against occupational detriment such as...

The Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (Anglican) has saluted “the legacy of service in God’s name and the Church” by the late Mr. Justice Lensley Wolfe, who died on Tuesday, April 18 after ailing for some time. A Statement issued by The Most Rev. Howard Gregory, Archbishop of the West Indies and Bishop of Jamaica & The Cayman...

The number of Domestic Violence Intervention Centres (DVICs) established at police stations islandwide has increased to 10. This follows the donation of six centres under the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Spotlight Initiative, which is funded through the European Union. The newly established facilities, which were retrofitted, are in addition to those at the Constant Spring and Matilda’s Corner Police...

Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, was abuzz with activities on Friday (April 21), as the Legal Aid Council’s Justice Fair rolled into the town. The event afforded scores of residents the opportunity to access various justice services of the government, including expungement of criminal records, victim support, and legal aid. Several services were available from a slate...

The Senate has appointed a select committee to review three crucial pieces of legislation to impose stricter penalties for murder. They are the Criminal Justice (Administration) (Amendment) Act 2023, the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act 2023, and the Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Act 2023. Committee members, who were named during Friday’s (April 21) sitting of the Upper House,...