Social Justice Division to Increase Community Engagement

The Social Justice Division in the Justice Ministry is aiming to increase community engagement across the island for persons to be able to access alternative justice services (AJS).

Principal Director, Social Justice Division, Jamie-Ann Chevannes, said the most recent efforts included an alternative justice services tour in parishes across the island.

The Social Justice Division comprises the Victim Services, Restorative Justice and Child Diversion Branches.

“Since the Division was operationalised in March, we do have plans to push these services under the ambit of the Social Justice Division to increase visibility to citizens and to let them know that the services are free,” Ms. Chevannes told JIS News in a recent interview.

The Principal Director also pointed out that there are plans in place to reach more parishes.

“Individually, the branches prior to the formation of the Social Justice Division were all out and working, so key stakeholders are aware of them. The tour ended in the last fiscal year, but we will confirm the dates for St. Mary,” she said.

Ms. Chevannes also said the Division will be working on a series of townhalls across the island.

“We have plans to participate in community events because we want to operate at the community level. Even though we are a national programme, we feel it is necessary to go into the communities to speak with persons and to engage in some of the activities they themselves are having on the ground, so that they become more familiar with the programme as well as the team from the Ministry of Justice,” she said.

Since the recent establishment of the Division, all the branches have met or exceeded their targets, with the Child Diversion Branch increasing participation by 20 per cent.

For details on how to access the services of the Social Justice Division, persons can visit moj.gov.jm, call 888 JUSTICE (888-587-8423) or visit a Ministry of Justice office or a Restorative Justice Centre.