Conflict Resolution Skills Imparted to School Participants Must Impact Institutions – RJ Branch

The Restorative Justice (RJ) Branch in the Ministry of Justice is working to ensure that the conflict resolution skills that school participants learn through the restorative practices training programme have a lasting impact on the institutions.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education and Youth, more than 12,000 participants from schools across the country have benefited from two-day training workshops under the initiative since 2022.

A new cycle of the training programme targeting teachers, parents, students and school administrators in another 150 schools is now under way.

Director of the RJ Branch, Joanalee Robertson, told a recent JIS Think Tank that the sustainability of the programme is an area of focus under the MOU.

“One of the things that we would have incorporated into streamlining our referral process is that matters from our schools can now be referred to various restorative justice centres for intervention and support. We also monitor and follow up and provide other interventions in the school, so we are invested in maintaining our relationship,” Ms. Robertson said.

She highlighted that the training programme is an investment into the relationships between members of school communities by promoting peaceful conflict resolution and repairing any harm done.

“Restorative practices is focused on healing. Additionally, restorative practices holds each player accountable, and this is done by engaging them in collaborative conversations that allow them to explore their actions, their decisions, and their behaviours to recognise the impact that they would have had on the person around them,” she said.

Ms. Robertson further pointed out that from these conversations, personal development and behaviour change that will positively impact the school community is the desired outcome.

“These are very important if you are trying to rewrite the narrative of how we resolve conflicts and disputes and how we choose, with the current crime climate within our society,” she said.

Persons can access more information on restorative justice and restorative practices on the Ministry’s website, moj.gov.jm, or by calling their toll-free number – 888-JUSTICE (587-8423), or 876-908-5527.