Jamaica Strengthens Child Protection with Justice Sector Refresher Training
Authorities and child advocates in Jamaica are reinforcing the country’s commitment to child rights and safety with a renewed focus on how children are treated within the justice system.
Last week, the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA), with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), hosted a two-day Child Justice Guidelines refresher training seminar for police officers and justices of the peace in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. The event drew participants from across the island, highlighting a collaborative effort to reinforce child-centred practices.
Acting Commissioner of Police McArthur Sutherland said the training was essential to refresh knowledge on how to respond to cases involving children, especially as law enforcement can become focused on more serious crimes, such as homicides, at the expense of treating lesser offences against children with the attention they deserve. He stressed that officers remain the “face of justice” in many child-related matters, underscoring the importance of consistently applying child protection principles.
Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison told attendees that early intervention and proper handling of children — whether in conflict with or in contact with the law — can prevent harmful outcomes later in life. She emphasised that children should not be seen as future criminals but as individuals shaped by their environments, and that proactive engagement can help steer them toward safer, healthier lives.
The seminar also provided a platform for justices of the peace (JPs) to understand their critical role in protecting children’s rights. JPs are often among the first community officials to interact with young people and families in crisis, and the training helped reinforce legal procedures and child-centred approaches that respect both the law and the welfare of children.
Participants welcomed the refresher. One JP from St. Mary noted that the training was timely and strengthened her ability to support and protect children in her community, beyond traditional administrative duties. Another participant from Kingston praised the session and expressed hope that similar training would be extended to more officers and JPs islandwide.
In closing, Gordon Harrison urged continued collaboration between law enforcement, JPs, and child protection advocates, saying the OCA cannot advance child justice alone. She reminded attendees that safeguarding children requires a collective effort from all sectors of society and that every positive action taken today contributes to a safer future for Jamaica’s children.
Why this matters: Training law enforcement and justice officials on child-centred guidelines directly supports the rights of children to protection, fair treatment, and rehabilitation, rather than punitive measures — a key principle in modern child justice systems worldwide.
