Changes coming to legal aid Act, coverage pool to widen

The Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding is pushing for changes to the law to allow for people charged with drug and money laundering offences to receive legal aid  support.

The current legal aid law bars the Legal Aid Council from providing representation at the expense of the State to people charged with these offences.

However, Golding has told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that the changes to the act will now apply to all offences that are now excluded.

He says a submission will be brought to the Cabinet on Monday for its approval.

Golding says stakeholders including the Jamaican Bar Association have been consulted on the proposed changes.