The Jury (Amendment) Act 2016, which makes provisions for majority verdicts to be accepted in cases of non-capital murder, was approved in the Senate on May 27. Piloting the Bill, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said this revised legislation aims to rectify omissions made in the Jury (Amendment) Act, 2015, which came into force...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has underscored the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships to curb crime and violence, as the problem could pose challenges for the Government’s attainment of economic growth and job creation. Central to this, the Minister said, are Justices of the Peace (JPs), who can play a proactive role in helping to reduce crime. The Minister was speaking...

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, says her office is within its rights to refrain from continuing with a case if the evidence is deemed insufficient and weak. According to Ms. Llewellyn, she feels a lot more comfortable adhering to the letter of the law as opposed to pandering to sentiments or making decisions that could come back to...

The relocation of the Ministry of Justice to premises at 61 Constant Spring Road should be completed by the end of July. All the units and divisions of the Ministry will be accommodated at the new property, including those located downtown Kingston. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Carol Palmer, told JIS News that most of the offices have...

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, is urging Jamaicans to take a stand against crime and violence by sharing information with the police that could assist in keeping their families and communities safe. Addressing an awards ceremony to recognise long-serving Justices of the Peace (JP) from Trelawny, at the New Testament Church of God in Clark’s Town recently, Ms....

The Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) has launched a new strategy, dubbed ‘Operation Uplift’, aimed at strengthening the fight against Trafficking in Persons (TIP). Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Clifford Chambers, who is head of C-TOC, said under Operation Uplift, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit will be given additional resources and support to strengthen its operations. “These...

Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Operations at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Charlton McFarlane, says it is important that civil registration and identity management are viewed within a developmental context. Civil registration includes vital information on the citizens of the country, such as birth, death, marriage and adoption, that is collected and stored. “At the international level...

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Fi Wi Jamaica Project, has joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to sensitize 1,000 persons about trafficking in persons over the next year. Country Director of  the USAID, Denise Herbol, said the drive is necessary as “not enough people know about human trafficking.” According to the International Labour Organization (ILO)...

Persons charged with human trafficking in Jamaica will soon be tried without a jury. This was stated by Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, at the launch of ‘Operation Uplift’, a new strategy to fight human trafficking in Jamaica, at the Police Officers’ Club on May 6. Mr. Chuck pointed out that the recommendation for trial by judge only was...