Jamaica
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- constitutional parliamentary democracy
- CONSTITUTION
- August 6, 1962
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on English common law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Senate and House of Representatives
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister; Court of Appeal
RELIGIONS
majority Protestant
From the country
- JANUARY 15, 2002JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Opposition Jamaica Labour Party leader and former Prime...
Opposition Jamaica Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister Edward Seaga called for increased penalties for law-breakers, including capital punishment for drug-related crimes and terrorism
- JANUARY 9, 2002JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
The Jamaican government must take immediate action...
The Jamaican government must take immediate action to challenge impunity for those who kill - be they police or civilians, Amnesty International said
- JANUARY 3, 2002JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
The people of 100 Lane, north of the Jamaican capital...
The people of 100 Lane, north of the Jamaican capital Kingston, moved away from their community in droves with their household articles in trucks and vans following the shooting deaths of seven members of their community earlier in the morning by over 30
- JANUARY 1, 2002JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Jamaica is a British Independent Territory that retains...
Jamaica is a British Independent Territory that retains the death penalty, but for which the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final court of appeal
- JANUARY 1, 2002JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
According to Amnesty International at least 52 people...
According to Amnesty International at least 52 people have been sentenced to death since the last execution in 1988 and December 2002
- OCTOBER 26, 2001JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Amid strident criticisms from the political opposition...
Amid strident criticisms from the political opposition and human rights activists, Jamaican police chief Francis Forbes ordered a review of the controversial police unit tasked with fighting organized crime and political gangs
- JULY 13, 2001JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International called on all Jamaicans to oppose...
Amnesty International called on all Jamaicans to oppose the continuing tragedy of inter-community violence and human rights abuses by the security forces, in wake of the recent outbursts of violence in Jamaica
- FEBRUARY 14, 2001JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Jamaica signed an agreement during the opening of the...
Jamaica signed an agreement during the opening of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) leaders' 12th inter-sessional summit to establish a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
- JANUARY 1, 2001JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Jamaica is a British Independent Territory that retains...
Jamaica is a British Independent Territory that retains the death penalty, but for which the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final court of appeal
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2000JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Six convicted murderers in Jamaica were spared from...
Six convicted murderers in Jamaica were spared from hanging by a Privy Council ruling that all prisoners should be given access to the Jamaican Mercy Committee, the body which decides who will be executed and who should receive mercy
- AUGUST 29, 2000JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Following a decade of soaring violent crime rates,...
Following a decade of soaring violent crime rates, many Jamaicans were calling on the government to take a "zero tolerance" stance toward criminals
- JUNE 19, 2000JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
Law officials from the Caribbean Community (Caricom)...
Law officials from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations met in Jamaica to discuss how to set up and pay for a proposed Caribbean court that would replace the British Privy Council as the region's final court of appeal