Chuck reports $680 million paid for State judgment debt in 2025/2026

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says the Government disbursed $680 million in judgment debt in fiscal year 2025/2026 to settle claims brought against the State.

“This will encourage judges to continue to deliver timely judgments and be a part of the process of delivering a stronger justice system,” he said.

Chuck gave the update on June 10 while making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. He informed Parliament that the Attorney General’s Chambers had used the funds made available for judgment debt matters that were sent to the ministry for payment, describing it as part of the administration’s pledge to provide justice for all.

Turning to social justice, Chuck said the ministry’s Social Justice Division is helping to build a more effective justice system through its coordination of the Restorative Justice, Child Diversion and Victim Services programmes.

He said alternative justice services have continued despite repeated disruptions and serious damage affecting some parish Justice Centres and parish courts. Chuck noted that training and public education sessions were still carried out with faith-based groups, schools, vulnerable communities, families and individuals requiring support.

The minister said restorative justice methods for prevention and dispute settlement were used during the recent increase in violence in schools. He also said the Social Justice programme works closely with the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills and Information to inform Jamaicans about conflict resolution choices.

In the previous fiscal year, Justice Day activities were held at four schools in four parishes, where the programme promoted peace and harmony messages to thousands of children.

Chuck further reported that, over three days last fiscal year, the ministry partnered with the judiciary to stage sensitisation sessions for judges on major social justice concerns.

He said complete digital case management is being introduced for the Child Diversion and Restorative Justice programmes. The Child Diversion work is being supported by UNICEF, while the Restorative Justice component is being backed by the Ministry of National Security and Peace through the Citizen Security Secretariat.

Chuck said the digital effort will improve case management and make programme data more dependable. He added that the ministry has upgraded its technology systems so social justice officers can assist citizens in offices, courts, police stations and other places where they meet clients.

On restorative justice, Chuck said that although Hurricane Melissa disrupted justice centres across the island, restorative justice and other social justice services have continued to make an important contribution to a stronger justice system.

During the last fiscal year, he said, the team reached more than 31,000 people through restorative justice sensitisation and delivered 101 restorative practices workshops.

“They continue to exhort Jamaicans to use the ministry’s flagship conflict resolution tool and ‘Talk It Out and Not Fight It Out’,” Chuck said.

“We are happy to report that our restorative justice interventions have resulted in almost 1,700 agreements signed by parties involved in conflicts, thus strengthening greater community cohesion and peace,” he added.