Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, opened the debate on the Authentication (Foreign Public Documents) Bill 2020 in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (September 29). The Bill is intended to simplify the authentication process of local documents intended for use overseas and of foreign documents intended for use in Jamaica, by only requiring an Apostille Certificate as proof of...

The House of Representatives has commenced debate on the Dogs (Liability for Attacks) Act 2020, which provides for criminal and civil liability for an owner of a dog that attacks, injures and/or causes the death of a person. Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, who opened the debate, said the Bill, which is intended to repeal and replace the Dogs...

The Child Diversion Programme continues to meet the treatment needs of clients despite the challenges brought by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Programme consultant in the Ministry of Justice, Ruth Carey, told JIS News that social distancing measures have impacted face-to-face sessions with clients and their parents, particularly in communities that were under quarantine. “However, what we did was to create virtual...

Child Diversion Consultant in the Ministry of Justice, Ruth Carey, is encouraging parents to ensure that their children stick to the treatment plan that has been designed for them under the Child Diversion Programme. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Ms. Carey said that parents and guardians are expected to remain accountable and accessible and to make sure that...

The Child Diversion National Training Curriculum has transitioned to an e-learning platform that has, so far, delivered training to the Parish Committees in Manchester, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth. Child Diversion Consultant, Ruth Carey, told JIS News that training started at the end of last year and continued until March, but with the reality of COVID-19, the programme transitioned to the...

The Child Diversion Programme Offices and Committees of the Ministry of Justice are now fully operational in all 14 parishes. The Programme seeks to divert children who come in conflict with the law away from the formal criminal justice system. This is one of the main objectives of the Programme and is in line with the Programme’s obligations under the...

Nine members of the judiciary were sworn into higher office on Monday (September 14) by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during a ceremony at King’s House in St. Andrew. They are David Fraser and Nicole Simmons, who have been appointed as Judges of the Court of Appeal. Their appointments become effective September 21, 2020. Also taking...