The Ministry of Justice’s National Child Diversion Programme has successfully connected over 200 child offenders with mental health professionals, as the year-old programme continues to expand its reach.
A June 2021 parliamentary report tabled by the Ministry revealed that 245 of the 303 children referred to Child Diversion since April 2020 received counselling related intervention. The range of counselling services accessed include mental health counselling, substance abuse treatment and sexual and reproductive education and counselling.
News and Press Releases
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), on Friday November 5, 2021, handed over two mobile units to the Court Administration Division (CAD) to be used by the courts of Jamaica to facilitate remote testimonies by vulnerable witnesses. The units, purchased at a cost of approximately JMD $23m, were handed over to the CAD at a ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters. The mobile units are equipped with video conferencing technology that will allow at-risk witnesses to deliver testimonies remotely.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is reminding the public that the Minister’s Marriage Licence that authorizes a Marriage Officer to officiate a wedding ceremony, is not a Marriage Certificate. The Minister’s Marriage Licence is issued by the MoJ before a wedding and is void if the marriage is not solemnized within three months, whereas the Marriage Certificate is issued by the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) after the wedding and bears no expiry date.
The Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) Victim Services Division (VSD) has provided support to 18,213 victims since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Programmes Manager at the VSD, Ms Dionne-Dawn Binns noted that services have been provided unabated despite the pandemic. “The Victim Services Division continues to serve Jamaica’s victim population despite the pandemic. We are staffed by a competent team of counsellors and psychologists who are committed to assisting victims of crime to cope with emotional trauma experienced as a result of crime,” she said.
Balancing Rights and Responsibilities
61, Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10
September 27, 2021
A year after the passage of the Dog (Liability for Attacks) Act 2020, the Justice Ministry is drafting a policy paper that will examine a number of legislative and regulatory issues concerned with the ownership, control and management of dogs including strays.
KINGSTON, Jamaica
The Justice Ministry on Monday, (July 12) launched its first virtual Restorative Justice (RJ) Facilitator Training Programme which will see participation from over 100 Jamaicans.
The facilitators will be trained in various processes of RJ and client care, to ensure they are able to treat with the multiplicity of referrals that are received. They will also be prepared training to conduct impromptu RJ sessions where immediate remedial actions are required.
Kingston, Jamaica The Justice Ministry has sensitised Justices of the Peace (JPs) across the island on Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
This through virtual sessions held in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. They follow a series of violent domestic attacks in the country.
Speaking at the first session on Thursday, May 13, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck urged the JPs to be active players in the reduction of domestic violence.
Balancing Rights and Responsibilities
61, Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10
March 23, 2021
Justice Ministry Rolls Out New Seal Design for JPs
The Ministry of Justice has begun rolling out new seals to Justices of the Peace with ‘Jamaica’ engraved instead of parish names.
The Justice Ministry is now undertaking work to renovate the Manchester Parish Court, following damage to the upper storey of the historic building in a fire.
The building is scheduled for operationalisation in the first quarter of the 2021/22 Financial Year and will accommodate a dedicated Family Court for the parish comprising a court room; Judges’ Chambers; office and administrative spaces; restroom facilities; and a receptionist/lobby area.
