Joint Study Attacks Jamaica's Justice System

By:  Andrew Benfield
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, North America

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) teamed with the George Washington University to produce a human rights study chronicling police shootings in Jamaica.  The joint study, “Killing Impunity: Fatal Police Shootings and Extrajudicial Executions in Jamaica,” investigated the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Jamaican judicial system.

More specifically, the study attacked the abilities of the Bureau of Special Investigations.  The Bureau of Special Investigations is responsible cases that involve the “discharge of a firearm” by a police officer. 

The study found that the Bureau of Special Investigations was “overworked and overwhelmed” and unable to complete its investigations within the six week required period.  The Bureau of Special Investigations inability to complete “effective investigations” has drawn criticism because it demonstrates the “institutional bias that can occur when cops have to police cops.” 

Recently, the Jamaica Constabulary Force revised its Human Rights and Police Use of Force and Firearms Policy.  Police have the right to defend themselves from violence and may take “pre-emptive action to diffuse or avert violence.”  However, a police officer is required to take “appropriate and proportionate” action.  A violation of these rules opens the officer to criminal and civil actions as well as complaints to the department and public inquest in death shootings. 

These revisions are an attempt to curb the increased incidents of police shootings.  In 2007, Jamaica had over 270 people killed in confrontations with the police.

For more information, please see:

Jamaica Gleaner - Report Gives Failing Grade to Justice in Jamaica - 12 March 2008

Jamaica Gleaner - Human Rights and Police Use of Force and Firearms Policy - 19 March 2008

IPS - Grieving Father Takes on Police Impunity - 25 September 2007