Public Relations Officer of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica (LMAJ), Claudette Bryan, says members fully understand the role the organisation plays in society as a body of committed volunteers, and the need to remain visible… even amidst a raging pandemic. “In previous years, all chapters would have had activities to commemorate the LMAJ month (in April). In St. James...

Public Relations Officer of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica (LMAJ), Claudette Bryan, is crediting Custodes and the organisation’s disciplinary committees for maintaining order and discipline among Justices of the Peace (JPs). Mrs. Bryan was addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the agency’s regional office in Montego Bay, St. James, on Tuesday (April 13). “If you are...

The Matilda’s Corner District Consultative Committee (DCC), which aims to increase police-citizen engagement in addressing crime and violence in and around the Liguanea area of St. Andrew, was officially launched during a virtual ceremony held on April 10. It is the ninth to be formed in the parish under the Ministry of National Security to address crime at the community...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the National Child Diversion Programme can play a key role in reducing youth reoffending in Jamaica. Child diversion involves measures to deal with child offenders, without resorting to formal judicial proceedings. So far, 305 children have been diverted from the criminal justice system through the work of the national programme. Addressing a recent JIS...

National Child Diversion Consultant, Ruth Carey, says that acceptance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a means of settling conflicts outside of the courts will require a culture shift. Ms. Carey, who was addressing a recent JIS Think Tank, said that many persons view the use of ADR processes in the criminal justice system, such as restorative justice, mediation, arbitration...

Eight members of the judiciary were sworn into higher office today (April 7) by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during a ceremony at King’s House. They are Marsha Dunbar Green, Evon Brown, Cresencia Brown Beckford, who were appointed to act as Judges of the Court of Appeal from April 12 to July 31, 2021. Also taking...

The Trelawny police are reporting a 62.5 percent decline in murders in the parish for the first three months of 2021. Divisional Commander, Superintendent Carlos Russell, told JIS News that three murders were recorded between January 1 and March 31, compared to eight for the corresponding period in 2020. He said intense police investigations resulted in two of the three...