Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck says more than 30 per cent of murders that occur in Jamaica yearly are a result of domestic violence.

“Over 30 per cent of our murders are from domestic disputes. Husband and wife can’t get along, mother and child can’t get along, father and son. You see how many domestic murders occur regularly, over 300 per year and I know restorative justice can play a part,” Chuck said.

He was speaking at the Ministry of Justice’s 15th staging of its Restorative Justice Conference on Wednesday, February 7.

Chuck says restorative justice, if utilised more in society, has the potential to reduce the country’s murder rate.

“We now have to move with missionary zeal not only in the schools but in the churches, the communities, the business places, the construction sites because, Jamaica is plagued with violence and I am happy since the beginning of the year, we have had a 24 per cent reduction in murders.

We should be proud of that, thank the police for the outstanding work that they are doing. Maybe there was some persons who resolved conflicts before they start to use violence and maybe therefore that may have saved a killing or avoided a killing. But the truth is that we know if persons can resolve disputes and conflicts peacefully we can have less murders,” Chuck said.

Restorative justice is a principle or concept that seeks to resolve conflict by having victims come together to reach an agreement.

The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for the National Restorative Justice Programme, which seeks to encourage Jamaicans to respond in a positive manner to conflicts. There are also several restorative justice centres islandwide.

The justice minister says his ministry will be seeking to provide greater financial support to its restorative justice facilitators to spread the news of restorative justice to Jamaicans.

“We must play our part to reduce murders in this country, to reduce violence, indiscipline and wrong-doing and I know we can if you just go out and preach the message of restorative justice, ” Chuck urged restorative justice facilitators.