Restorative Justice Boasts High Success Rate

The Restorative Justice (RJ) Programme under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has maintained a minimum 80 per cent success rate in resolving conflicts, reflecting growing national confidence in the programme.

Through thousands of conferences annually, the programme has successfully repaired relationships, with agreements signed in the majority of cases accepted, Acting Director of the RJ Branch, Sheron Betancourt, tells JIS News.

“Whatever it is that the parties have agreed to, that agreement is signed for 80 per cent of the cases that we take,” she notes.

RJ seeks to resolve an offence or dispute by having all parties involved come together to reach an agreement.

It is a different way of thinking about crime and conflict by holding the offender accountable in a more meaningful way and repairing the harm caused by the offence.

RJ helps to reintegrate the offender into the community and to achieve a sense of healing for both the victim and the community.

Cases are referred to the programme by the courts, police or persons can self-refer.

“You can walk in if you have a beef with your neighbour and say, ‘I have this challenge’. We will take the initiative, invite the other parties in, and we will set up the conference,” Ms. Betancourt tells JIS News.

The services of the RJ Branch are free to the public.

“The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs provides this free of cost to every single person who would want to access this service,” says Mrs. Betancourt.

“So [think of] the money that they will save by not going to court, trying to employ a lawyer, or any of those services; this service is free,” she emphasises.

Ms. Betancourt notes, further, that the programme is unique in its approach to justice by focusing on mending broken relationships.

“I want Jamaicans to know that restorative justice is not just about coming to an agreement; it’s also about restoring the relationship so it reduces the chance of re-offending,” she says.

“If my neighbour and I resolve the conflict and we’re on speaking terms, then it reduces the likelihood that the person will re-offend. They will have the dialogue instead because they would have learned some things from the RJ conference,” she says.

Mrs. Betancourt tells JIS News that the programme’s follow-up approach has encouraged more Jamaicans to embrace restorative justice over the years.

“We follow them up for three months just to make sure if money is to be repaid, whatever it is, we ask about that. We also ask about the relationship and [if] the [parties] are still on good terms,” she says.

“They have seen where we don’t just sign an agreement and leave them, but we follow up to ensure that whatever was agreed on, that the relationship has been restored. I think that has impacted Jamaicans enough to say, ‘I am heard, I am seen and my relationship with my neighbor or my family members has been restored’. That has impacted Jamaicans and they’re coming around to accept the programme a little bit more,” she continues.

Mrs. Betancourt points out that citizens can easily access restorative justice services anywhere across the island.

“There is a justice centre in every single parish, so you do not have to go far to find justice. We have nine centres in Kingston where persons don’t have to move from one community to another. It’s really justice at your fingertips,” she says.

Jamaicans are being encouraged to take full advantage of the free services of the RJ Branch.

“I want persons to consider utilising this free service that not only resolves the conflict but also restores the relationship for a more just, peaceful and cohesive [society],” Mrs. Betancourt encourages.

For details on the Restorative Justice Programme or to find the nearest RJ centre, individuals may call 888-JUSTICE (587-8423) or visit www.moj.gov.jm.