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The Ministry of Justice
yesterday launched Trinidad and Tobago’s first-ever Victims’ Handbook
during a ceremony at the ministry’s head office at Tower C,
International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.
The
handbook provides information on a range of services available to
victims of crime, including where they can access counselling, legal
aid, and health care.
It
also includes information on victims’ rights and how individuals may be
eligible for financial and other assistance to help with recovery
costs.
Additionally,
the booklet provides information on how the criminal justice system in
Trinidad and Tobago works, from the time a crime is reported to the
police, to when a matter is completed in the courts.
Speaking
at yesterday’s event, Minister of Justice Emmanuel George said the
handbook heralds the advancement of a more caring and considerate system
that connects victims and their loved ones to the information they need
to heal and move on.
The
handbook is a step toward the development and implementation of a
restorative justice system, rather than the current retributive system,
George said.
“Restorative
justice is an approach to reconciling the harm caused by crime in a
manner that promotes accountability and rehabilitation for offenders and
healing for victims and communities,” George said. “Under a retributive
system, however, the goal is mainly to punish and incarcerate the
perpetrator.
“There
is perhaps nothing worse than being traumatised in the first instance
by a crime perpetrated against you and then being made a victim time and
time again as a result of the lack of proper support and care,” he
added.
George also announced the ministry is in the process of drafting a Restorative Justice policy.
