PRESS RELEASE:Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has urged high court judges to continue making referrals to the Child Diversion Programme. His latest call was made during an online training session for high court judges conducted by the Ministry of Justice’s Child Diversion (CD) Unit.
Addressing
the session, Minister Chuck encouraged the approximately 38 judges from the
Supreme and Appellate Courts to “join the Ministry’s work in making an
important difference to the children who are exposed to multiple
vulnerabilities by referring them to this Programme.”
The
sensitisation session is the latest in a series of sessions hosted by the Child
Diversion Office, as the effort to educate stakeholders in spite of the
COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Approximately 38 judges from the Supreme and Appellate Courts were
sensitised.
Child
Diversion Coordinator Ms Ruth Carey said she was pleased with the outcome of
the training as it allowed the CD Unit to provide exposure on the programme to
the nation’s high courts.
She
revealed that next on the agenda is training of parish court judges to offer a
more holistic understanding of the Child Diversion approach. “Child Diversion unites all stakeholders who
work with children and offers a more robust programme with a treatment plan
that provides more benefits to children as it brings all the players of the
justice sector together with the interest of the child in mind,” she stated.
Since
the programme’s implementation in December 2019, 230 children have been
referred and are enrolled in treatment programmes at the thirteen (13) Child
Diversion offices island wide. –
Contact: Ms. Paula-she’
Hastings – Senior Public Relations Officer. Email: paula-she.hastings@moj.gov.jm
, Telephone: 876-301-3276
