Major Restorative Justice Sensitisation for Downtown Kingston

The Restorative Justice (RJ) Branch in the Ministry of Justice will be partnering with the Domestic Outreach Team of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to undertake a major sensitisation activity in downtown Kington as part of the Restorative Justice Week.

RJ Week will be observed from Sunday (February 4) to Sunday (February 11) under the theme ‘Transformation, Peace and Harmony through Restorative Justice’.

Restorative Justice Officer at the Tivoli Gardens RJ Centre, Saccsha Ebanks, said the intervention is timely for communities impacted by conflict.

It will focus on creating balance in families affected by crime and violence and educate persons on how to peacefully resolve disputes.

“RJ is justice that focuses on the need [for] harmony and healing. We believe and we have seen how RJ as really assisted in healing families in communities in Kingston, particularly in Tivoli Gardens where I serve. Families come to our centres to take their children to talk about issues that are affecting them, issues that are tearing their families apart, issues that are leading their children towards a life of crime and violence,” she noted.

Ms. Ebanks further pointed out that the sensitisation initiative, being held in front of the Kingston Parish Church, will be supported by other stakeholders.

“We are taking RJ on the street to the people of Jamaica, to the regular man on the street. We will be partnering with our sister agency, the Victim Services Division and stakeholders from the Central Police Station – the domestic violence outreach team – to talk to you about RJ, how you can receive healing, how you can talk about your issues, how you can strategise your own conflict resolution,” she noted.

There are currently four RJ centres in Kingston, located in Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Greenwich Town and Trench Town.

For more information on Restorative Justice and other RJ Week Activities, contact the Ministry of Justice by calling the toll-free number 888-JUSTICE (587-8423) or visit their website at moj.gov.jm.