Government of Jamaica
JUSTICE POLICY & GOVERNANCE DIVISION
The purpose of the Justice Policy and Governance Division is to lead the development of strategic plans and national policies as well as facilitate the enactment of legislation that supports the transformation of the justice sector and improve access to justice, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised groups.
The core functions of the Justice Policy and Governance Division (JPGD) are:
- to develop/amend policies and legislation that support the Ministry’s mandate to create a just and law-abiding society and increase access to a fair and efficient justice system;
- lead strategic planning, lead performance monitoring and evaluation, and recommend areas for improvement and strategies to effect same; and
- conduct research, and analyse emerging issues and trends, to support evidence-based decision-making towards transforming the Justice Sector.
The JPGD is comprised of two (2) Branches, as follows:
- Strategic Planning and Performance Management (SPPM) Branch; and
- Justice Policy Analysis and Development (JPAD) Branch.
SPPM Branch
The Strategic Planning and Performance Management (SPPM) Branch is responsible for ensuring that a robust planning, monitoring, reporting and budgeting framework exists to support the effective implementation of the Ministry’s policies, programmes, projects and initiatives, consistent with the broader strategic priorities of Government.
The SPPM Branch provides the institutional mechanism to promote accountability, alignment with national development goals, and continuous improvement in programme and policy delivery. The core areas of focus are:
- Development of the Ministry of Justice Strategic and Operational Plans
- Preparation of four-year Strategic Plans and Annual Operational Plans, which are aligned with Vision 2030 Jamaica, the SDGs, and Cabinet priorities, and guide programme implementation across the ministry.
- Quarterly Performance Reporting
- Preparation and submission of Quarterly Performance Reports to track achievements against planned targets, highlight variances, and inform decision-making at both the executive and divisional levels.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Ministry’s policies, programmes and projects through verification visits and monitoring reports, designed to assess effectiveness, identify performance gaps and recommend strategies for performance improvement.
- Performance Management System Support
- Oversight and continued deployment of the CASCADE Software Application, which has digitised the performance monitoring, and reporting function.
Together, these functions ensure that the Ministry of Justice is positioned to deliver on its mandate, thereby strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
JPAD Branch
The Branch was established in 2016 as a part of the Justice Sector Reform initiatives to strengthen the core functions of the Ministry of Justice by improving the quality and responsiveness of policy planning and research instruments.
The JPAD Branch comprises three Units:
- Criminal, Civil and Family Law Unit (CCFLU)
- Public Law, Restorative and Preventative Justice Unit (PLRPJU)
- Research, Modernisation and Reform Unit (RMRU)
Criminal, Civil and Family Law Unit
The Criminal, Civil and Family Law Unit (CCFLU), focuses primarily on current and emerging issues relating to criminal, civil and family law issues.
Public Law, Restorative and Preventative Justice Unit
The Public Law, Restorative and Preventative Justice Unit (PLRPJU) consists of two arms, policy and operations. The policy work of the Unit focuses on the Government’s strategic priority of increased access to justice, restorative justice, areas of alternative methods of justice delivery, and preventative justice.
Operationally, the PLRPJU administers the Notaries Public and Justices of the Peace regime pursuant to the Notary Public Act and the Justice of the Peace Act.
Research, Modernisation and Reform Unit
The Research, Modernisation and Reform Unit (RMRU) provides research, data analytics and statistical support to inform the policies and programmes of the Ministry of Justice generally. These include:
- Programme Evaluation – Assessing the effectiveness and impact of programmes administered by the MoJ.
- Justice Research – Conducting and disseminating research on justice sector priorities and challenges to inform evidence-based planning, monitoring and reporting.
- Report Drafting – Compiling and producing annual reports to support planning, monitoring, and accountability.
