During 2018, the Ministry of Justice continued its thrust to create a sound court infrastructure, in keeping with the Justice Reform Implementation Plan (JRIP).
Improved Infrastructure
• Over $1.4 billion was allocated for capital development, which included construction, refurbishment and rehabilitation of justice institutions.
• Three new justice centres were opened in Westmoreland, Trelawny and St. Mary, bringing to five the number of parishes that now have these facilities.
Major Infrastructural Works
• Re-opening of the Court of Appeal, in downtown Kingston, which was refurbished at a cost of just over $845 million.
• Road rehabilitation works at the Trelawny Justice Centre valued $17.6 million.
• Refurbishing of the St. Ann Parish Court at a cost of $26.8 million.
• Retrofitting work for re-establishment of the Family Court Attendance Centre at a cost of $50.7 million.
JPs Trained
• 503 Justices of the Peace (JPs) in St. Andrew, St. Ann, Trelawny, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, St. Catherine and Portland completed training.
• 2,334 JPs were sensitised at special sessions.
Making Justice Services More Accessible
• 753 criminal cases were expunged.
• The Mobile Justice Unit provided services to 3,543 persons in 186 communities.
Human Trafficking
• 20 investigations were initiated and 15 raids carried out by law enforcement officers resulting in six victims being rescued, three being placed in shelters and one repatriated to country of origin.
• Two persons were convicted while one was upheld on appeal.
• Jamaica made history as the first Caribbean country to adopt the Blue Heart Campaign, with the launch of the Jamaica UN Blue Heart Campaign.
