JFJ wants SOE detainees compensated

On the heels of Friday's explosive Supreme Court ruling that declared years of government-imposed States of Public Emergency (SOE) unlawful, human rights watchdog Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is turning up the pressure on the authorities.

The group is now demanding that those wrongfully detained between 2018 and 2023 be compensated for their suffering.

"... The human cost of these unconstitutional measures is profound," JFJ said, revealing that between 2018 and 2020, it received more than 100 complaints from individuals detained without charge under the SOE.

"Many suffered devastating consequences, including job loss, eviction from their homes, and severe medical complications, such as untreated chronic conditions exacerbated by prolonged detention. These impacts, disproportionately affecting young men from inner-city communities, underscore that constitutional provisions exist to protect the most vulnerable from state overreach," the group added.

JFJ also pointed to data obtained from the Ministry of National Security, showing that between November 2022 and March 2023, only three of the 44 persons detained under SoPEs were actually charged--raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the controversial measure as a crime-fighting tool.

While acknowledging Jamaica's ongoing crime crisis, JFJ argued that the data fails to justify the sweeping detentions and the erosion of fundamental rights. It noted that the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms guarantees every citizen the right to liberty, freedom of movement, and judicial redress--rights it said were unlawfully curtailed under the SOE regime.

"Now that the Court has made express declarations on the matter, the Government ought to respect these judgements, prioritise lawful policing, and continue investments in rights-respecting solutions to address crime," JFJ said.

"We also urge the Government to support those unlawfully detained under the 2018-2023 SOE in seeking compensation... As we work toward a safer Jamaica, constitutional protections must guide our efforts, ensuring that the fight against crime upholds the rights of the most vulnerable and strengthens our democratic institutions," the organisation stated.