Restorative Justice Week starts today
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) celebrates Restorative Justice Week 2017 from February 05-10 under the theme: “Building Restorative Communities in Faith Groups, School and Community.”
According to a release from the ministry, Restorative Justice Week is an opportunity for the Ministry of Justice and its partners to educate the public and raise awareness island-wide of restorative justice services. In keeping with the theme, the ministry says the message of restorative justice principles and practices will again be taken into churches, schools, private and public entities to guide the process of settling disputes peacefully, and to reduce the instances of violence, tension and conflict.
The week of activities will start with a service of thanksgiving today, February 5, at the Ridgemount United Church, 53 Main Street, Manchester in Mandeville.
On Monday, February 6, there will be a balloon and popsicle drive in Half Way Tree at the Transport Centre and Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay, as the justice ministry seeks to spread messages of peace to a wide cross-section of Jamaicans.
“Restorative justice is justice that heals and scientific evidence shows that it can create a long-lasting effect for a peaceful Jamaica. With such a programme, over the long term, we will notice a change in Jamaica’s social landscape which should result in a reduction in crime and violence,” said Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry Carol Palmer.
According to the ministry Jamaica is still in its early stages of employing restorative justice programmes, which is being practised in 10 communities across the island through the establishment of peace centres. These centres have been established in Trench Town, August Town and Tower Hill and plans are “far advanced for the establishment of centres in Denham Town and Tivoli Gardens”.
Such programmes have also been established in St Catherine, Clarendon, Westmoreland, and St James.
Some of the matters referred to the centres include property disputes, boundary matters, as well as disputes over money, fraud, wounding, defamation and physical threats.
