Justice Of The Peace
Section 10 of the Magistrate Act guides appointing citizens to serve as Justices of the Peace.
JP Appointments
JP Removals
Voluntary Service
Powers and Duties of Justices of the Peace
A Justice of the Peace shall have the power to preserve the peace, to suppress riots and affrays, and to disperse all disorderly and tumultuous assemblages, and for any of these purposes to call upon the assistance of the police force and members of the public, who shall be bound to obey all lawful commands.
Every Justice of the Peace shall have the same power as a Magistrate to issue warrants for the apprehension and commitment for safe custody of persons charged with offences; to remand persons charged with offences, to issue search warrants and to take affidavits and administer oaths in cases allowed by law; and to sign summonses to defendants and witnesses in civil cases and to witnesses in criminal cases.
If any indictable offence or breach of the peace is committed in the presence of the Justice of the Peace, he or she may apprehend the offender or verbally command any other person to do so; and that person may thereupon follow the offender and if he or she flees, carry into effect and execute the command whether in or out of the view of the Justice by whom it was given.
The jurisdiction of a Justice of the Peace shall extend throughout Grenada or the district or portion of a district for which he or she may be appointed. In the exercise of his or her powers whether civil or criminal, a Justice of the Peace shall be deemed to be a Magistrate within the meaning of the Magistrates Protection Act, Chapter 179.
Whenever a Magistrate is unable from sickness, absence or any other cause, to be present in Court, any Justice of the Peace, being a barrister or solicitor or 2 Justices of the Peace (neither being a barrister or solicitor), may at the request of the Magistrate in writing sit in Court in his or her place, and shall while so sitting have and exercise all the powers of a Magistrate: provided that such power shall not extend to more than one sitting of the Court or for the completion of the hearing of any matter commenced at such sitting.
Applying to be a Justice of the Peace
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be a Grenadian citizen who is resident in Grenada at the time of appointment, and is able to read and write in the English Language
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attain the age of twenty-three (23) years
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is an individual whom the Governor-General is satisfied that:
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is of unquestionable integrity
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commands the respect and confidence of the individual’s community; and
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has given good service to the community or the wider Grenada, and who demonstrates the potential for continuing to give such service.
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- Submit an application for a Justice of the Peace appointment by Nomination or Individual Application.
- Individual applications are to be submitted with two (2) references, birth certificate and a CV (Optional).
- Nomination forms are to be submitted with a reference letter, birth certificate and CV.
- All applications will be thoroughly checked for completeness and due diligence checks will be executed.
- Upon Cabinet approval applications will be submitted to the Office of the Governor-General for the issuance of appointments.
- Arrangements will then be made with the Magistrate Court for Appointed Justices of the Peace to take the oath of office.
Application Forms
Functions of a Justice of the Peace
- serve the public in attesting and authenticating documents under the official seal, for example; passport forms, passport size pictures and banking applications
- consider applications for bail
- visit Prisons/Lock ups, Children Homes and Homes for the Aged
- serve on the Licensing Authority for Spirit Licence other than Wholesale and Occasional Licences
- give counsel and advice
The office of a JP is voluntary and accordingly request and/or acceptance of reward and/or payment for any service performed by a Justice of the Peace is not allowed.
