Situation during the visit (A/HRC/16/52/Add.3) (i) Ensure that justices of the peace and resident magistrates conduct regular visits to all police lock-ups; Police lock-ups in Jamaica are used as de facto remand centres, where persons awaiting trial can be held for several months or years, despite current practices worldwide of holding detainees at police lock-ups for up to 48 or maximum 72 hours. Information received in the reporting period the corrections system.37 However, it is reported that the Government occasionally allows human rights NGOs to visit prisons and prisoners are able to make complaints to the Office of the Public Defender without censorship.38 However, there is reportedly no system designed to safeguards inmates suffering from mental illness and their ability to make independent complaints. Government: As part of the Government‘s move to place emphasis on restorative justice and conflict prevention, the Minister of Justice has urged Justices of the Peace to be the checks and balances of State abuse and judicial excess. To this end, Justices of the Peace are sensitized by the Ministry of Justice about their duties regarding persons in Police Lock-ups. Resident Magistrates have also been sensitized and have renewed their commitment to making more frequent visits to Police Lack-ups. The JCF maintains a central database of all juveniles in police custody at the national level. In respect of adult inmates, a central register is kept in each police Division and these are available for inspection. Non-governmental sources: Reportedly, justices of the peace are frequently used for and known to ‗rubber stamp‘ the continued detention of individuals based upon the police version of events without adequately reviewing the legality of the detention. It is reported that the Minister of Justice has recently publicly taken up the issue related to the practice of signing arrest warrants without having reasonable grounds for detention. This issue is compounded by advocates and human rights defenders not having access to a central database stating the names of those detained and the length of the detention. 37 38 See: CCPR Human Rights Committee. (11 July 2011). Replies from the Government of Jamaica to the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the third periodic report of Jamaica. CCPR/C/JAM/Q/3/Add.1. (p. 21, paragraphs 125-126). United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA). (May 2011). Jamaica Country Report. A/HRC/19/61/Add.3 134 Recommendation (A/HRC/16/52/Add.3)