Government of Jamaica
JPAD Branch
The Justice Policy Analysis and Development (JPAD) Branch is one of two Branches within the Justice Policy and Governance Division. The Branch was established in 2016 as a part of the Justice Sector Reform initiatives in strengthening the core functions of the Ministry of Justice by improving the quality and responsiveness of policy planning and research instruments. JPADB is mandated to develop, formulate and analyse policies and legislation, regulatory and programme proposals, to support the Ministry’s leadership role in justice reform towards the achievement of a secure, cohesive and just Jamaica.
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)
The JPAD Branch also possesses an operational arm providing legal administrative services via the CCFLU and the PLRPJU, retained from the former Criminal and Civil Justice Division.
The Criminal, Civil and Family Law Unit
The Criminal, Civil and Family Law Unit (CCFLU), consists of two arms, policy and operations.
The Unit focuses primarily on current and emerging issues relating to criminal, civil and family law, in supporting the Ministry to fulfil the Government’s strategic priorities of justice reform and access to justice.
The Unit’s operational arm offers the following legal administration services to the public:
- The production of Minister’s Marriage Licence;
- The processing of applications for expungement of criminal records to be sent to the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Board,
- The facilitation of the service of local and international maintenance orders.
The Public Law, Restorative and Preventative Justice Unit
The Public Law, Restorative and Preventative Justice Unit consists of two arms, policy and operations. The PLRPJU focuses on issues relating to the interaction of the state with the public. In supporting the Ministry’s mandate to fulfil the Government’s strategic priority of increased access to justice and restorative justice, the Unit’s mandate also encompasses the areas of alternative methods of justice delivery, restorative and preventative justice.
The Unit’s operational arm administers the Notaries Public and Justices of the Peace regime pursuant to the Notary Public Act and the Justices of the Peace Act.
The Research, Modernisation and Reform Unit
The Research, Modernisation and Reform Unit (RMRU) provides research and statistical support to inform the policies and programmes of the Ministry of Justice. The staff of the RMRU comprises a Director, a Chief Research, Modernisation and Reform Analyst, three Research Analysts and an Administrator.
In addition to conducting research projects, the RMRU is currently in the process of developing a data collection framework. The aim of the framework is to develop a data management mechanism where Justice Sector data can be centralized and standardized for the development and recalibration of policy as necessary to ensure access to justice for all Jamaicans.
