Country’s Court Infrastructure Being Modernised

The Government is advancing the construction of the St. Thomas Judicial Court Complex at the new Morant Bay Urban Centre, marking a significant milestone in modernising the country’s justice infrastructure.

Facilities in Clarendon and St. Catherine are also being prioritised.

This was disclosed by Custos of Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller, as he delivered the 2025/2026 Throne Speech at Gordon House on Thursday (February 13). He was deputising for Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen.

Custos Fuller further announced that work is expected to commence on the Manchester Regional Judicial Complex.

“The commencement of a phased introduction of an Integrated Electronic Case Management System in the justice system will modernise legal processes, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving accessibility, particularly for persons with disabilities,” he said.

In the meantime, the Custos said the Ministry of Justice remains committed to access and equity through modern infrastructure, inclusive services, and legislative advancements.

Custos Fuller said in the past year, construction began on a state-of-the-art justice centre in Hanover, a $200-million investment that will provide restorative justice, victim support, and mediation services.

Major courthouse repairs were also completed across St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. Catherine, Manchester, and Portland, reinforcing resilience and accessibility to justice services.

More than 1,000 individuals accessed legal aid through fairs, and more than 100 incarcerated persons with mental illnesses received legal representation.

“Justice professionals received Jamaican Sign Language training to improve access for persons with disabilities. Restorative justice referrals achieved an 81 per cent agreement rate, while over 700 young people aged 12 to 17 were diverted from the formal court proceedings towards rehabilitative treatment plans,” Mr. Fuller noted further, adding that more than 1,000 victims of crime received intervention services.

The Ministry also made substantial progress on several legislative matters.

Custos Fuller informed that stakeholder consultations are completed, and the Notaries Public (Repeal and Replacement) Bill will soon be presented to Parliament.

In addition, the Legal Aid (Amendment) Act will integrate the Legal Aid Council into the Ministry as a department.

Legislation passed in the 2024/2025 fiscal year include the Maintenance (Amendment) Act, which allows maintenance orders for parents to maintain their children aged 18 to 23 who remain in education or training, and the Judicature (Rules of Court) (Amendment) Act, which grants greater flexibility to the Rules Committee of the Supreme Court.