The Government will be spending $1.2 billion to construct and renovate police stations and other buildings. The project, entitled ‘Construction and Improvement of Police Buildings’, is being implemented by the Ministry of National Security. As outlined in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the money will go towards the construction and expansion of the Caribbean...

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has thanked outgoing Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Carol Palmer, who has been reassigned to the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET). “When I first came to the Ministry of Justice and met with Permanent Secretary Carol Palmer, it was very clear to me her passion for justice. I take this opportunity to...

Manager of the Kingston Restorative Justice Centre, Roydon Hall, is appealing to churches to promote restorative justice. “Nationally, I am appealing to the church to promote restorative justice, because we are taking the same messages of the church islandwide,” Mr. Hall said. He was speaking to JIS News at the 10th Conference on Restorative Justice, held recently at the Spanish...

The Ministry of Justice and National Integrity Action (NIA) has entered a new phase of collaboration. “We shall be supporting the implementation of the Child Diversion Act to include training of police officers and other agents in the justice system,” said the NIA’s Executive Director, Professor Trevor Munroe. He said that the NIA will also continue its drive for legislative...

The National Task Force Against Trafficking In Persons (NATFATIP) is seeking 10,000 volunteers to aid in the fight against the scourge in Jamaica. “We’re looking for volunteers and anti-human trafficking champions in Jamaica at all levels – churches, communities, youth clubs and places of business – to join this ‘whole of country’ fight against trafficking in persons,” said Chair of...

The Government remains committed to providing resources and support for the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) strategic development, in a bid to further strengthen the rule of law. This is in keeping with the findings of a 2018 study, commissioned by the Ministry of National Security as the Administration seeks to further advance the capacity building thrust for JCF, and further...

Restorative Justice is regarded as effective in reducing likelihood of offences being recommitted. This is according to Coordinator of the Restorative Justice Unit in the Ministry of Justice, Dr. Kahilah Whyte. “What is happening now is that we have instances where offenders are becoming Restorative Justice Volunteers [and] are now helping individuals to heal and go about their lives,” she...

Over 24,000 persons have been sensitized about the Restorative Justice process since phase three of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP III) commenced in 2014. The impact of the peace-building tool was revealed by CSJP III Communications/Social Marketing Specialist, Patrice Tomlinson-Nephew, during the 10th Restorative Justice Conference in Kingston on February 8. “Our work in communities over the past...

The Ministry of Justice plans to train members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), among other key stakeholders, in child diversion practices. Senior Director for Corporate Services in the Ministry, Sandra Graham, told JIS News, that Deans of Disciplines and Guidance Counsellors in schools are also being targetted for training, citing them as pivotal partners in the broader restorative justice...