The Ministry of Justice is using animation to offer therapeutic intervention to children who are victims of crime. On Friday (May 28), the Ministry, through the Victim Services Division (VSD), launched an animation bundle comprising eight short films, each  approximately one to three minutes in length, that provide critical lessons to help children cope with violence and life-changing trauma. They were...

The Ministry of Justice has reiterated its commitment to providing access to justice for all Jamaicans, including children. Identified as a vulnerable group, children can benefit from the Ministry’s Child Justice Services from various programmes and initiatives. Director of Public Relations and Communications at the Justice Ministry, Shari-Ann Palmer, told JIS News that at the core, these services help to...

The Victim Services Division (VSD) is strengthening its preventative approach to support provided for children who are victims of crime. The Division supports the Ministry’s mandate of providing social justice services to Jamaicans through delivering psychosocial support for victims of crime as well as advancing efforts that promote victims’ rights. With special emphasis being placed on not just providing support...

Debate on legislation that will grant a limited right of appeal to the prosecution in criminal proceedings in the Parish Court or Circuit Court started in the House of Representatives on May 12. The Bills, Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Judicature (Parish Courts) (Amendment) Bill, 2021, were piloted by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck. The Minister said...

Over the last year, the Administrator-General’s Department (AGD) closed 434 estates and transferred all the assets to the beneficiaries. This was disclosed by Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, who informed that the Department, which “is one of the shining [agencies] of the Ministry of Justice”, exceeded its target of closing 400 estates. He further noted that 350 new estate...

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) disposed of more than 1,200 cases across the various circuit and gun courts islandwide during the last fiscal year. This was disclosed by Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, who said this adds to the Office’s “excellent track record of delivering effective and just prosecutions in criminal proceedings”. “Over the past...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, wants to see the expungement of the criminal records of more ex-offenders who have long given up on a life of crime and are now upstanding citizens. Expungement involves the formal removal of a conviction from an individual’s criminal/police record after a specific period of time has elapsed and after certain requirements have been...