Jamaican Ministry seeks to reduce case backlog through dispute resolution
Dec 18, 2009
from the Justice Ministry press release:
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Robert Rainford, has said that the Ministry is aiming to make significant inroads in reducing the backlog of court cases within the next five years, under the Justice Reform Programme.
Speaking at the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF), at the Foundation's headquarters in Kingston, Friday (December 11), he disclosed that, based on figures from the courts, the annual backlog of cases could amount to as much as 150,000 cases per year.
"We have asked for weekly reports from the courts. We started in August, and when we look at what is coming, we are having in the region of 3,000 cases per week not being heard in the courts," he explained.
However, Mr. Rainford noted that the thrust towards sending more cases for mediation to the Foundation, has been helping with the fair and timely resolution of some.
The Justice Ministry has also partnered with the DRF to train 50 Justices of the Peace and community leaders in Restorative Justice. The Ministry is now trying to recruit a national technical advisor for the programme.
"This person will help to drive the Restorative Justice programme in the Ministry of Justice, and we need somebody who has that interest. We have been facing challenges in identifying such a person. We have gone overseas and we are looking as wide as possible to see if we can find that candidate," Mr. Rainford told the AGM.
Reparative Justice
I am trying to find some recent data about the reparative justice process that happens in Jamaica. Can you direct me to more recent articles.
A youth program (Youth Academy Football Fraternity Program (YAFFP) uses this approach for conflict resolution with inner city kids in the greater Kingston area. I would like to know the outcome of some of the issues you are dealing with with the courts back log.
Thank you in advance for any direction you can give me and if you have any questions, just let me know. Thanks and make it a great day, Jeannie