There have been mixed reactions to the government's new anti-crime plan, particularly in relation to the proposals to amend the Bail Act, so that persons charged with serious crimes can be denied bail for a period of 60 days.
Some lawyers are of the view that the amendment would interfere with judges' discretion to grant bail.
"It would be a constitutional breach and no political directorate has the right to interfere with the discretion of a judge," a lawyer said.
Open flood gates
Other persons have also shared their views: "Such an amendment would open the floodgates for unscrupulous persons to tell lies on persons just to get them locked up for 60 days," a businessman said.
One elderly man said: "I am so frightened and frustrated with the increase in the crime rate that I do agree with the government that the well-known criminals should really be locked up for a long time."
But one woman disagrees. "I cannot agree with the plan. There must be other ways to cut down on crime, because my innocent son was locked up on a gun charge for five days before he got bail," she said.
Innocent
"Do you know what happened in the end? My son's girlfriend told a lie on him that he threatened her with a gun because they had an argument.
"She went to live with a man in the country while my son was in jail. After my son attended court for about 10 times, the judge set my son free.
"I could never agree with people being locked up for so long because you must remember that some people are innocent," the woman remarked.
There will likely be challenges in court if such an amendment is made to the Bail Act, depriving people of their freedom for such a long time, without an early appearance before a court.
Section 15 of the Constitution of Jamaica makes it abundantly clear that any person who is arrested or detained if not released "shall be brought without delay before a court".
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