KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Court Management Services (CMS) has announced that 57 cases were disposed of in the Home Circuit Court, the St Catherine Circuit Court and the Gun Court, as part of the“Sentence Reduction Days” initiative over the two days October 19 and 20. 

The CMS, in deeming the Court Reduction Days as “successful” said the Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn expressed approval that more people have decided to take advantage of the initiative. 

Llewellyn noted in particular that, “commendations must be extended to the police officers who diligently prepared their cases.”

She noted that the overall success of the initiative is a good sign of the work being conducted by key stakeholders and is testament to the fact that when all stakeholders work together a lot can be achieved.

President of the Jamaica Bar Association, Jacqueline Cummings, also expressed approval of the initiative, stating that, “the greater uptake of the sentence reduction option this time around reflects the growing understanding of its potential benefit by members of the Bar and accused persons.”

The Sentence Reduction Day initiative is aimed at providing opportunities for accused individuals who are guilty and wish to plead guilty on specific days where significant discounts in sentences will be granted.

It also allows accused people who have pleaded guilty to benefit from the sentencing policy set out in Part 1A of the Criminal Justice (Administration) (Amendment) Act.

CMS said that in relation to the imposition of sentences, it must be noted that this involves a process where accused people’s antecedents and social enquiry reports are prepared and presented to the court before sentences are handed down.

Having pleaded guilty on October 19 and 20, further dates have been set for the court to receive these reports and for sentences to be imposed.