Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Justice Ministry urges screening for people to determine abusive relationships
Executive Director of the Victim Services Division (VSD), Osbourne Bailey, is encouraging persons to be screened for intimate partner violence.
Latest News
March 16, 2021

Justice Ministry urges screening for people to determine abusive relationships

KINGSTON, Jamaica— People in relationships who think they are experiencing intimate partner violence are being encouraged to access screening from the Victim Services Division (VSD), in the Ministry of Justice.

Between January 2020 and February 2021, the VSD says it saw 884 clients who were victims of domestic crimes.                                                                                                       

Executive Director of the VSD,  Osbourne Bailey, told JIS News that screening seeks to assess whether a person’s relationship is abusive and to what extent.                                      

“The VSD continues to screen persons who may be experiencing intimate partner violence, while noting that there has been some concerning information about what may be happening in partnerships during this time. As such, we continue to make ourselves available to take persons through the screening process and assist them through the counselling process,” Bailey added.               

He said that if people are uncomfortable with the way their partners speak to them, the kind of language used and other things that may happen in the relationship, then the screening process may be able to help them have a better understanding of what is happening.                                                    

“Persons can call the VSD and we take them through it online. After that, we can provide the requisite counselling and referral to the relevant authorities – for example police or court – so the necessary action can be taken,” Bailey explained.                                                                                         

Meanwhile, the intake of persons who are victims of intimate partner violence continues to happen.                                                                                                                                                                          

“Based on the numbers we’ve seen, there is definite evidence that we have to be vigilant in ensuring that persons, male and female, understand that there is a mechanism in victim services to provide them with counselling and emotional support. Also going beyond that, there is more than just counselling and emotional support, because in some instances we would have had to speak to the authorities,” Bailey said.                                                                                                                                                   

He also reminded people who are certain they are in abusive relationships that the VSD is also an avenue to use for support even before speaking to the police.     

“We also find that, in some instances, persons come straight to our offices, and that’s why the numbers are important. It’s a very trying experience to be in a relationship that is violent, and sometimes speaking to and through an intermediary, like the police, is a little challenging, so we let these people know they can come straight to us through our numbers. Some people just want to talk and they don’t want themselves to be publicly known; at least, not initially,” Bailey said.

“[Once they contact us], we would let them know what is available and what the process is like before they come in. So, it is important to let the public know if they have reason to believe their relationships have become violent that they can be taken through a series of questions that will conclude, in very clear terms, whether the relationship is violent, to what extent and what are the options they have available to them,” he added.

Bailey said the Government has been working to provide shelters for victims of intimate partner violence and coming to the VSD could result in persons getting a referral to being accepted in one of these facilities.

To contact the VSD, persons can call 876-946-0663 or 888-VICTIMS (842-8467).                                   

JIS

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

175 killed in traffic crashes since January – ITA
Latest News, News
175 killed in traffic crashes since January – ITA
June 14, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The number of people killed in traffic crashes since the start of the year has risen to 175 as at Friday June 13. The deaths have ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Onyx Brown waxes lyrical with ‘Blue Moon’
Entertainment, Latest News
Onyx Brown waxes lyrical with ‘Blue Moon’
June 14, 2025
FLORIDA, United States — Florida-based reggae artiste Onyx Brown said he was inspired to write the single Blue Moon after experiencing the relatively ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
UK moves warplanes to Middle East amid Iran crisis
International News, Latest News
UK moves warplanes to Middle East amid Iran crisis
June 14, 2025
(AFP) — Britain is deploying fighter jets and other "assets" to the Middle East amid an escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, United Kingdom (U...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
J$49 m ‘Village at Tower Hill’ project to deliver new housing for six families
Latest News, News
J$49 m ‘Village at Tower Hill’ project to deliver new housing for six families
June 14, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Construction is set to begin next week on a new multi-family residence in St Andrew West Central, which will provide housing for a...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Warrior King teams up with Busy Signal on ‘Moonlight’
Entertainment, Latest News
Warrior King teams up with Busy Signal on ‘Moonlight’
Dana Malcolm 
June 14, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Rastafarian reggae artiste Warrior King is generating a major buzz with his latest single, 'Moonlight' featuring dancehall star B...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Leave the Auditor General alone, church group tells Gov’t
Latest News, News
Leave the Auditor General alone, church group tells Gov’t
June 14, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica  — The church has come out strongly against moves by the Government to remove the Auditor General (AG) from among the five commissio...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Turkey’s Erdogan warns against ‘devastating’ Israel-Iran war
Latest News
Turkey’s Erdogan warns against ‘devastating’ Israel-Iran war
June 14, 2025
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned against a "devastating war" between Israel and Iran that could trig...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Caribbean immigration advocates welcome ruling barring ICE office at prison
International News, Latest News, Regional
Caribbean immigration advocates welcome ruling barring ICE office at prison
June 14, 2025
NEW YORK, United States (CMC) – Caribbean immigration advocates on Friday welcomed a preliminary injunction by the Supreme Court of the State of New Y...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct