The Senate yesterday passed two Acts, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of The Justice System.

The first – An Act to Amend The Criminal Justice (Administration) Act – will make provisions for a reduction in the sentences on guilty pleas, facilitate appeals on minimum sentencing in special cases, and to provide for other related matters.

The second – An Act to Amend the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act – will make provisions for appeals on sentences that are fixed by law.

In commenting on the bills, government senator, Lambert Brown stated that he was elated that The Justice Minister was making incremental steps towards enhancing the Jamaica Justice System.

He added that he was anxious to see the power of the mandatory sentences handed back to judges, instead of having a legislator placing a ‘one size fit all’ law on criminals.

And in piloting the bill, Justice Minister, Senator Mark Golding noted that while mandatory minimum sentences are still in place, the government would review extreme cases where minimum mandatory sentences are unjust and allow for exceptions.

Justice Minister, Senator Mark Golding

However, before the bills were passed, opposition senators, Marlene Malahoo-Forte and Alexander Williams expressed concerns about the rigorous appeals process defendants would have to undergo, in order to be exempted.

These concerns led to a 15-minute suspension of the senate to review the clauses.

But government senator Mark Golding refused to amend the clause in question and this led to a divide in the senate.

The divide was settled with 11 in agreement, one against and eight absent.

The first bill was passed with 11 amendments, while the second was passed without any amendments.