GPF committed to improving delivery of justice to citizens – Top Cop

Recognising the existing flaws within the criminal justice system, acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has affirmed the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF’s) role in delivering justice to citizens in a timely manner.
Hicken made this statement during his feature address at the Restorative Justice Awareness training held at the Officers’ Training Centre on Camp Street, Georgetown on Tuesday. In his address, Hicken highlighted the crucial role of restorative justice in transforming society’s perception and approach to crime within the criminal justice system. He emphasized that restorative justice aims to heal the harm caused by criminal offenses with the involvement of all stakeholders, including victims, offenders, and the community.
“Today, justice is dimensional, accounting for distributive justice, which determines who gets what; procedural justice, determining how fairly people are treated; redistributive justice, based on punishment of wrongdoing; and restorative justice, which speaks to restoring relationships,” he explained.
Further, he expressed that the effectiveness of restorative justice has been proven, as it aids in reshaping offenders and providing support for complainants.
Hicken also emphasised the importance of offenders taking responsibility for their actions, making amends; and providing opportunities for victims to express their experiences, seek closure, and actively participate in the resolution process.
While acknowledging that the justice system has failed some individuals, Hicken stressed the need for authorities to make every effort to bring about change.
“Clearly our criminal justice system has failed a few, and has assisted many. As our nation is challenged with overcrowding of minor offenses, the overreliance of the criminal justice system on custodial sentencing has overused pretrial detention, causing congestion in the court system and difficulty in reintegrating victims and offenders back into the community,” he declared.
To address these issues, Hicken pledged that the Guyana Police Force would contribute to the improvement of the justice system. As part of these efforts, the Restorative Justice Centre pilot program was officially launched in April. The initiative aims to reduce overcrowding in prisons nationwide by embracing the concept of restorative justice.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, during the launch, also expressed support for restorative justice. He lauded Guyana for being a leading example in adopting restorative justice, and stated, “The punitive and restitutive methods of punishment are not aiding in reducing the crime rate. It is in this context that restorative justice presents itself as a feasible and progressive alternative.”
Nandlall is encouraging students of the University of Guyana, particularly those from the social sciences faculty, to conduct studies on restorative methods in order to address crime and contribute to the ongoing transformation of the justice system. (G-9)