Justice ministry assisting children through court support programme

The Ministry of Justice’s Victim Services Division (VSD) continues to assist Jamaica’s child victim population through its court support programme.

The programme was designed to reduce the level of trauma experienced by children as they interface with the court system. This is achieved primarily through a series of sessions held between the child and a VSD social worker or counsellor.

The Rev Osbourne Bailey, director at the VSD, said that the preparation process for children who are to appear in court involves a range of activities.

“The court preparation sessions focus on evaluating and addressing a child’s fears and knowledge of the rules and processes of the court. We teach them relaxation techniques so they can better manage these fears. We also accompany them to court as well as prepare them for all possible outcomes of trial,” he explained.

The methods used to achieve these outcomes include play therapy, art therapy, role play, use of a model courtroom and pretrial visits to the actual court building. The underlying premise of the programme is that preparing the child on what to expect reduces the stress, unfamiliarity and trauma of the actual process and possibly helps the clarity of the child’s testimony during trial.

Bailey further noted that while the division takes special care to prepare children for court hearings, the VSD does not participate in witness coaching.

“Under no circumstance do we interfere with the justice process by telling or attempting to persuade children to change their testimonies or evidence. Our role is strictly to help these children to feel comfortable in a court setting so they are better able to deliver these testimonies,” the director said.

Since the start of the 2021/22 fiscal year, VSD’s court support programme assisted 434 children.