The Justice Ministry’s Justice Training Institute (JTI) has trained over 1,600 Justices of the Peace (JP) between April 2020 and August 2021, using the online modality. Of that number, 350 have been trained since the start of the new financial year, April 2021, said Principal Director of the JTI, Karen Campbell Bascoe. She told JIS News that between April 2020...

The introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods to youth across the country could secure strengthened conflict-management techniques. ADR methods such as mediation, restorative justice, conciliation and arbitration are processes and techniques persons can use to settle disputes outside of the courts. Manager for Youth Services and Administration at the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF), Cherrol Taylor, told JIS News that...

President of the Court of Appeal, the Hon. Mr. Justice Patrick Brooks, says there are concentrated efforts to reduce the backlog of 70 reserved cases. He disclosed that of the 70 reserved cases, one dating back to 2018, and seven from the year 2019. “Thirty of the 70 cases are from 2020 and those are steadily being reduced,” he also...

The Justice Training Institute (JTI) has reached more Jamaicans through the offering of classes online. Since last year, the Institute has been using the virtual modality to deliver training courses to participants. Director Principal of the JTI, Karen Campbell-Bascoe, told JIS News that the JTI intended to eventually deliver sessions online, but the reality of the (COVID-19) pandemic expedited efforts....

The Bureau of Gender Affairs has commenced sensitisation sessions to educate Jamaicans about aspects of the proposed Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act 2021. This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith while opening the debate on the Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act 2021 in the Upper House on Friday (September 17)....

Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr. Justice Bryan Sykes, said the efficiency of Jamaica’s courts has improved despite challenges from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He made the announcement upon congratulating the 12 new judges who were sworn into office at a ceremony held at the King’s House Ballroom in Kingston last Wednesday (September 15). Justice Sykes highlighted that the country’s Gun...

The Judiciary of Jamaica has established a Family and Probate Division of the Supreme Court, which became operational on Thursday (September 16). The new division will hear matters related to divorce, division of property, child custody and maintenance, to improve efficiency and the rate of deposition of matters involving the family. The Family and Probate Division will be primarily managed...