The Government continued to make good on its commitment to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.
• The island’s courts received audio visual equipment valued $85 million to facilitate testimonies from remote locations as well as make it easier to view and play back electronic evidence in court, record proceedings in real time, digitise documents, among other
capabilities.
• The Ministry of Justice received funding of £1 million from the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) to continue Unification of Pro-secutorial Services Project in Jamaica.
• Court Administration Division (CAD) established an Emergency Call Centre to facilitate ease of access for Jamaicans to the courts for information.
• A witness care strategy and action plan was developed.
• The first ever strategic business plan for the judicial arm of Government was officially unveiled and implemented in the court system.
Making Justice Services More Accessible
• Mobile justice services were expanded to members of the disabled community and the elderly with the addition of two specially retrofitted units valued Can$420,000.
• The Mobile Justice Unit provided services to 1,497 persons between January and October.
• The Restorative Justice Unit hosted 538 sensitisation sessions with 9,172 beneficiaries. Some 40 police officers and 125 school administrators were trained in restorative justice.
• A total of 517 Justices of the Peace were commissioned between January and November.
Victim Services Division
• Therapeutic interventions were provided for 4,679 clients from January to October.
• Play therapy tools, valued at $1 million, were donated by the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation to be used as therapeutic aids in the recovery process for children who are victims of crime.
Child Diversion Unit
• 14 Child Diversion Offices and 14 parish Child Diversion Committees were
established and operationalised.
• Some 390 mentors were trained and 153 clients referred.
• 56 sensitisation sessions were held in-person and online.
• 18 MOUs were signed with providers to deliver drug abuse treatment, sexual and reproductive health counselling, and other mental health services.
Major Infrastructural Works
• Refurbishing works were undertaken at the Supreme Court at a cost of $25.83 million.
• Hanover Parish Court (electrical works) done at a cost of $21.25 million
• Retrofitting and renovation of the James Warehouse Plaza to
facilitate the temporary relocation of the Manchester Parish Court was done at a cost of $36.68 million.
• Additional works at the Trelawny Family Court done at a cost of $19.93 million.