The Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF) is encouraging professionals with backgrounds in the behavioural sciences, to volunteer for the School Suspension Intervention Programme (SSIP). The programme aims to equip youth, including those who are at risk of suspension, have been suspended and those in need of intervention with critical tools, to address conflicts and to promote development. Manager for Youth Services...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the Government plans to increase to 20 the number of Restorative Justice Centres established across the island. Addressing the virtual launch of the Restorative Justice Facilitator Training Programme on Monday (July 12), he also announced plans to establish one facility in Maverley, in St. Andrew North Western and one in the constituency of St....

The Restorative Justice Unit (RJU) in the Ministry of Justice is training more restorative justice (RJ) facilitators as part of efforts to strengthen the delivery of RJ services to Jamaicans. These facilitators are being prepared to lead the conferences, which are key tools in the RJ process. These conferences are structured meetings involving offenders, victims, families and friends of the...

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have been receptive to the efforts of the Restorative Justice Unit (RJU) towards raising awareness of the practices of restorative justice (RJ). Ongoing sensitisation efforts are aimed at various groups, for instance school administrators, to inform them of preventative measures and using RJ as a tool to manage conflicts in schools. Restorative Justice...

The Justice Ministry’s Restorative Justice Unit (RJU) has recorded an increase in self-referrals to restorative justice (RJ) intervention. “With COVID, we’ve seen an increase in situations where there are self-referrals. This is because there is the household with other family members with whom persons may not always get along. Also, because persons are in the same space for such a...

The Restorative Justice Unit (RJU) of the Ministry of Justice sensitised more Jamaicans on RJ practices than projected in 2020. Restorative justice, which is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) method, utilises conferences to bring the offender, victim and affected community members together to facilitate healing. Restorative Justice Coordinator, Andriene Lindsay, told JIS News that despite the restrictions implemented...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is urging Justices of the Peace (JP) to be proactive in their response to child abuse. The Minister made the call during a virtual JP sensitisation session last evening (July 1), titled ‘A Discussion on Child Abuse in Jamaica’. Speaking to the more than 300 participants, Minister Chuck lamented that children “are being abused and...