Dozens of Mentally ill persons granted legal aid in Jamaica – Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says from January 2020 to November 2020 the Mobile Justice Unit provided legal advice to more than sixteen thousand (16,000) Jamaicans, including dozens of mentally ill persons.
The Minister of Justice says the legal aid has been provided to one hundred and ninety-five (195) mentally ill persons in seven parishes: St. Mary, Trelawney Manchester St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St. James. Minister Chuck also said he is aware persons who are mentally challenged have been posing a problem in the justice system.
To date, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) says legal aid has empanelled 797 attorneys to provide representation to persons who are impecunious.
He says in spite of the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile units were used to deliver legal services to hundreds of people in a number of communities.
Meanwhile, Minister Chuck added that restorative justice has also seen improvement as more and more matters are being settled outside the court.
Christeen Forbes has the full report:
