FOUNDATION
The primary responsibility of the government is to provide a safe and secure environment in which there is justice for all the people of Jamaica. This will form the foundation of the policies of a JAP government and will take priority over all other obligations. The criminal and civil justice courts will receive substantial attention and resources so as to make them easily accessible, quick and fair. The present state of the justice system is of grave concern to all as persons are being given very long trial dates in both the criminal and civil courts. Systems will be put in place to have trial dates within an acceptable time.
SECURITY
The best deterrent to persons who would consider committing a crime is the knowledge that it is very likely that they will be caught, suitably punished and be made to pay restitution to the victim or to their family. This can only be achieved with the citizens and police having mutual confidence in each other, working closely together and cooperating with each other. As such the following steps will be taken.
1. Policies
The public-relation arm of the police force will be significantly strengthened and the police force will be remodeled as a service and enforcement organization. Great emphasis will be placed on community policing and there will be activation of the neighborhood watch programme in all communities. INDECOM will be equip with adequate resources to investigate all shootings and any questionable actions of the police, soldiers and prison employees. There will also be a special department to investigate members of the police force such as in cases of unexplained wealth. A special ‘A team’ of police detectives with adequate resources drawn from the very best within the force to investigate threats or attacks on members of our security forces, judges, members of the prosecution team, jurors, witnesses, civil servants and political leaders where it is thought that these threats or attack is related to the performance of their duty. This team will also include persons to provide security services for any of these persons in need of it. There will be recruitment of more District Constables to work in their local community and liaison with the citizens. Persons will be encouraged to provide information to the police via safe avenues and the use of very attractive rewards to obtain information and apprehend suspects will be used. There will be proper zoning and establishment of a postal code throughout the country. Address consisiting of street names and numbers will be used to identify each parcel of land so that they can be easily found, especially first responders. The police and personnel from the department of public prosecution (DPP) will begin working much closer together and not just getting involved to prosecute the case after the investigations are completed by the police.
2. Policing
The morale of the police will be boosted by providing better welfare, working conditions and the provision of training and adequate resources on an ongoing basis for the police force to include personal gears, weapons, vehicles and technological needs. Greater emphasis will be placed on the rights and responsibility of both the police and the citizens and there will be an intensive program to educate citizens on what their rights and responsibilities are, so that they will be aware of when they are breached and so can seek redress. Better relationships with members of the public will greatly help to increase the morale of the police force. The reorganization of the police force to function more as a service organization instead of only law enforcement will take place. The police will be working smarter and more effectively to prevent and solve crimes. There will be an effort to cut back on the use of the army in law enforcement duties and limit it to occasions where their help is necessary.
3. Citizenry
Citizens in communities will be encourage to get to know each other and socialise through events such as ‘block parties’, citizens association meetings, sporting activities and to cooperate with each other in their neighbourhood watch program. The citizens will be educated on safety measures and encourage to take steps to prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime.
4. Legislations
The various legislations needed to enable the police to be effective in their work while protecting the rights of the citizens will be enacted within the shortest possible time. At the same time existing laws will be look at with a view to change any that are deemed as unfair or ineffective. The penalties for various offences will also be look at to see what changes are needed.
JUSTICE
Criminal and Civil Justice will be a major plank of JAP. Great effort will be made to provide adequate courtroom space, personnel and equipment. Many conflicts develop and escalate because the party being wronged is unable to stop the action or to get redress in a timely manner. At the same time the perpetrator is comfortable in the knowledge that there is very little that the victim can do legally to stop them and so will continue their action.
1. Criminal Justice
The practice of selecting jurors from the voters’ list will be discontinued and jurors will be selected from a list of all persons over the age of eighteen, except for those in the restricted categories, so as to have a sufficient pool of jurors for selection at trials. Some categories of government workers will be included in the jury pool. The public will be educated as to the need to serve as jurors so that they will give their service willingly. The penalties for criminal offences will be studied with a view of increasing or decreasing them to reflect the gravity of the offence. More flexible sentencing options will be implemented thus giving the judge a wide range of alternative and more discretion in sentencing, having taken into consideration the sentencing recommendation of the prosecutors and the circumstances of the crime. Measures will be put in place to eliminate repeated postponements of trials and have them completed in a timely manner. More emphasis will be placed on giving non custodial sentences for offences where the offender is not a repeat offender or is not deemed a threat to anyone. Persons who are sentenced to do hard labour, will do hard labour while they serve their sentence. The parole system will be reorganized so that victims and their family or other persons concern with the case will have an input at parole hearings before any decision is taken.
2. Civil Justice
Local municipal courts will be set up where persons will have the option to take simple civil disputes and have them heard so as to receive a judgment which will be binding on both parties. The number of judges hearing civil cases will be increased and the necessary court room space and support staff provided. There will be reduced cost to access civil justice by means of quick and speedy trials. Too many persons are forced to settle out of court for a fraction of their claim due to long delays and escalating cost. With an improved civil justice system offenders will now find that in addition to facing criminal penalties, they will also have to contend with civil suit which may leave them broke or in debt for a very long time. Civil penalties will be a major means of curtailing wrongdoings in the society. Persons who have been wronged, injured or whose rights have been violated in any way will easily have the opportunity, and will be encouraged to seek redress in the civil court.