Draft of Restorative Justice Policy to go to Cabinet Soon

Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, said that a draft of the proposed Restorative Justice Policy is to be submitted to Cabinet within the next few weeks, for consideration.

Speaking with JIS News, following the official opening of the May Pen Restorative Justice Centre in Clarendon on Tuesday (February 7), Senator Golding informed that work on the policy, which will provide the framework for the full implementation of the restorative justice programme in Jamaica, is “far advanced”.

 “I have a draft…that I have been reviewing (and) I have a few comments on it. I anticipate (that) in a few weeks, we (would) have worked everything out in that document, and it will be ready to go to Cabinet,” he assured.

He informed that development of the draft had broad stakeholder input, through consultations with and submissions from non-governmental organisations (NGOs); the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP); Disputes Resolution Foundation (DRF); and representatives of the legal profession.

Senator Golding explained that subsequent to the Cabinet submission, drafting instructions would be issued to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to facilitate amendments to the law for the courts to recognise restorative justice.

“There’s going to have to be legislation to institutionalise this in the system, so that the police and the judges and the magistrates and the clerks of court know about it and support it. The policy (will) basically (explain) how we all work (together), where the points of intersection with the justice system will be…to…guide the process,” he outlined.

Restorative Justice facilitates a process of reconciliation and healing, involving all of the parties impacted by the wrong committed. These persons include: the victim, offender and community.

The concept has been successfully carried out in other countries, such as Canada, and Senator Golding said its implementation in Jamaica, was one of the recommendations arising from the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry.

The initiative is currently being piloted in four communities: Tower Hill, St. Andrew; Spanish Town, St. Catherine; May Pen, Clarendon; and Granville, St. James.

As part of activities marking Restorative Justice Week, four centres, pivotal to the programme's work, are being opened in the communities. Two, situated in Tower Hill and May Pen, have already been opened. The third, in Spanish Town is scheduled to be opened today (Feb. 9), while the Granville centre is slated to be launched later this week.

He informed that a review of the pilot will be conducted to analyse the initiative’s effectiveness, adding that: “hopefully, it (pilot) will go well and we will be able to expand the programme for other parts of the island."

Minister Golding said there is “strong belief” in the concept and effectiveness of restorative justice and there are great expectations that it will yield success in Jamaica.

“We are trying to make it happen…and I am carrying on the work of my predecessors, who have all been in favour of it. I’m not saying it’s a panacea (for) crime and violence (which) has many causes and there are many things that have to happen to eradicate it, but this is an important element of trying to move it to a better place.

“I think it’s something that Jamaica really needs, and I am hoping that it will be very successful (because) it’s seen as, really, the way of the future,” Senator Golding stated.

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter