A DOCUMENT outlining Government's plans to reform Jamaica's justice system will be submitted to Cabinet for deliberation by the end of this month, Justice Minister A.J. Nicholson said last week.

Mr. Nicholson told a press conference at the Ministry of Justice's headquarters in St. Andrew that the document contains 183 recommendations of a national task force established by Government.

He said the recommendations - which include increasing the authority of resident magistrates - will be shaped into a modernisation plan after it is reviewed by the Canadian Bar Association with which the Government has a contract.

"In my view, those involved in the management of this phase of this exercise have produced a document which is of high professional standard," the Minister said.

"The next step will be the submission of this work plan to Cabinet for its decision on what is to be incorporated into the transformation agenda, so that the country's justice system will have a cohesive, strategic modernisation road map."

Mr. Nicholson did not give the cost of the reform programme.

"It is not reasonable to expect that the costing for such a programme is available at this time. The consultative phase has only just ended," he said.

Months of meetings

Mr. Nicholson said the task forcemet for nearly nine months. It comprised outgoing Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, representatives of the Public Sector Reform Unit, the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

Mr. Nicholson, who is also the Attorney-General, said Government has already taken steps to improve aspects of the justice system. These include construction of new court houses in Portland, St. Elizabeth and St. James, as well as well as computerisation of the High Courts and office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The legal community and human rights advocates have long lobbied for comprehensive reform of the justice system. They argued that dilapidated courthouses and case back-logs have caused widespread deterioration.

In January last year, then Prime Minister P.J. Patterson said restructuring the criminal justice system would be given priority in the 2006/2007 national budget.

In addition to upgrading the physical structure of courts, Mr. Patterson said the Supreme Court would be regionalised with centres in Manchester, St. Ann and St James added to the court in Kingston.

This, he said, would improve access and increase case turnover.