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Legal Aid Officer with the Legal Aid Council, Kerona Spence, says the move to have consultations via telephone is aimed at safeguarding Jamaicans.

Executive Director of the Legal Aid Council (LAC), Hugh Faulkner, has reported that the LAC provided duty counsel to 3,331 persons for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

“For duty counsel, 3,331 sessions were done to assist Jamaicans. In other words, 3,331 Jamaicans had an attorney present to advise them of their rights during [police] question-and-answer sessions,” Faulkner said.

“We believe that justice delayed is justice denied, so we have a rapid-response policy to duty counsel. Once we receive a request for duty counsel, an attorney is assigned immediately.”

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Justice, Grace Ann Stewart McFarlane, is projecting an increase in the utilization of the Legal Aid Service with the launch of the legal aid council’s website.

She’s also lauding the 700 strong legal aid team for it’s ability to penetrate under-served and high-risk populations, thus increasing access to justice.

Mrs McFarlane says the legal aid services should also be extended to every platform where feasible.

The recently launched Legal Aid Council (LAC) website will ensure that citizens have easier access to services and information provided by the Council.

Legal Officer, LAC, Kerona Spence, said the dedicated website, developed in-house at the Ministry of Justice, is the latest addition to the Council’s social media platforms as it seeks to create greater public awareness about its legal-aid resources.

The services of the Legal Aid Council will be further expanded with the addition of two mobile units to be commissioned by the end of the financial year, bringing the number of mobile units operated by the Council to three.

This was disclosed by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, at the launch of the Legal Aid Council website on September 4 at the Ministry, Constant Spring Road in Kingston.