KINGSTON, Jamaica — The first set of 50 Justices of the Peace (JPs) that have been selected by the Justice Training Institute (JTI) will begin training to become mediators on Monday, February 13, and Friday, February 17, at the Ministry of Justice. 

According to a ministry release, the target is to train 300 JPs to work as mediators.

The initial focus, the ministry says, will be the reduction of the backlog in the criminal justice system, but eventually, the JPs should also play a role to address matters in the civil justice system as well.

Director of the Justice Training Institute Karen Campbell-Bascoe, in stressing the importance of the training stated that “Mediation is a neutral process that is quicker, less stressful and cheaper than going to the courts”.

At the end of the training and certification process, the JPs will have their competency assessed through the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF). 

Once satisfied, the names will be sent to the Chief Justice for gazetting as certified mediators and they may form part of a roster of court-appointed mediators who can then be selected to mediate in the parish courts.

The ministry says that several JPs indicated a willingness to serve as mediators following a series of sensitization sessions conducted by the justice ministry last year.