Governance Being Strengthened in Justice System

The Government has set aside $304.7 million to strengthen governance and oversight structures in the justice system.

This will be facilitated through the Justice, Security, Accountability and Transparency (JSAT) Project, which aims to improve the quality of life of Jamaican citizens by strengthening governance and oversight, with particular regard to the functioning of the justice system.

This is outlined in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The money will also be used to rehabilitate and equip classrooms and dormitories at the Single Training Academy; provide software training; complete the construction of an Annex to the Forensic Science Laboratory; and provide technical assistance to support the establishment of a single anti-corruption agency.

It will also be used to provide technical assistance to document protocols within law-enforcement agencies; and provide training and supply equipment to aid in the fight against corruption.

Achievements up to December 2018 include the supply of equipment to the Forensic Institute of Science Laboratory and Legal Medicine Department to facilitate the identification of drugs and other substances; the refurbishing of interview rooms at select law enforcement agencies, with video-recording items; and the provision of training at the Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine in the usage of the Chromatograph to facilitate the identification of drugs and other substances.

The project, which falls under the Ministry of National Security, began in August 2014, and is being funded by the Government and the European Union.