Effective February 2021, jury trials are to resume on a phased basis for the Home Circuit Court and some Rural Circuit Courts of the Hilary Term. Jury trials for matters excepting where the death penalty is in issue; will proceed at courts, which can accommodate jurors with adequate space for physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please see...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is committed to making the justice system robust, efficient and more capable of serving the interests of all Jamaicans. It is in pursuit of this goal, he said, that “we are seeking to improve and strengthen the rule of law, and pursue timely justice outcomes. We are also updating a...

An additional 45 persons have been commissioned as Justices of the Peace (JPs) for the parish of St. James. Minister of Justice, Hon Delroy Chuck; and Custos Rotulorum for St. James, Bishop the Hon. Conrad Pitkin, headed the officials and guests in attendance at the commissioning ceremony, which was held at the S Hotel Conference and Events Centre in Montego...

Legislation enabling drug samples and photographs of evidence to be received as evidence of large exhibits in court proceedings, was passed in the House of Representatives on December 8. The Bills – Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, 2020 – were piloted by Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck. Mr. Chuck said the Dangerous Drugs Act...

An offender management policy is to be developed for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, at Wednesday’s (December 9) virtual post-Cabinet press briefing from Jamaica House. She said that development of the policy, which was approved by Cabinet, is necessary, as the DCS’ offender management system, which...

The Ministry of Justice has signed a $10-million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to strengthen the National Child Diversion Programme. Child diversion works by steering children away from the criminal justice system and, instead, using a holistic approach to improve the child’s behaviour through other methods, including counselling support and mentorship. Justice Minister, Hon....

Hon. Justice Patrick Brooks was sworn in as President of the Court of Appeal yesterday (December 7), by Governor General, His Excellency the Most. Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at King’s House. Justice Brooks was also invested with the Order of Jamaica at a swearing-in and investiture ceremony, held at King’s House. In his address, the Governor General said Justice Brooks...