Week of Activities for Restorative Justice Week 2025

The Restorative Justice Branch (RJ) in the Social Justice Division of the Ministry of Justice is to observe the 16th Restorative Justice Week from February 2 to 8 with a slew of activities to mark the occasion.

RJ provides an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system by focusing on healing and repairing the harm caused to the victim, ensuring offenders take responsibility for their actions, and frequently involving the community in resolving the conflict.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Tuesday (January 28), Acting Director of the RJ Branch, Sheron Betancourt, said that activities will be focused on this year’s theme, ‘Healing the nation, the restorative power of justice in Jamaica’.

“We want to make restorative justice a name on the lips of every Jamaican. We want them to know that there is another way to settle conflict; the restorative justice way,” she pointed out.

The week of activities will commence on Sunday (February 2) with a church service at the Yallahs Baptist Church in St. Thomas to celebrate the victories of restorative justice.

“On Tuesday (February 4), we move ‘pon di corner’ where all our justice centres will move into the streets, sensitising the public, stakeholders and all the persons they come in contact with on the practices and principles of restorative justice,” Mrs. Betancourt informed.

Activities continue Thursday (February 6) with a Therapeutic Intervention Session in collaboration with the Ministry’s Victim Services Division.

“We will host hurting children who have been victims of crime and trauma. We will take them for a day of restorative justice practice principles and therapeutic activities to help them to cope with the effects of trauma,” said Mrs. Bentacourt.

The week of activities will culminate on Friday (February 7) with the annual restorative justice conference bringing together academics and technocrats to chart the way forward for restorative justice in coming years.

For more information on restorative justice and RJ Week activities, persons may contact the Ministry of Justice toll-free at 888-JUSTICE (888-587-8423) or visit the agency’s website at www.moj.gov.jm.