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The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of some of the deficiencies in the criminal justice system in Jamaica, particularly relating to financial crime. The author also examines possible alternatives in the approach that may be taken in tackling financial crime.

The methodology used was a review of data on financial crime in Jamaica as well as recent significant cases. An analysis of key pieces of legislation was also undertaken. In some instances, a comparative approach was invoked, with special reference to the UK and US laws.

Some essential findings include the positive impact that may be gained from restorative justice principles, the effective enforcement of asset recovery provisions and stricter regulation of the financial services industry.

There is no similar comprehensive examination of these issues concerning Jamaica.

The purpose of this paper is to construct a profile of a financial criminal, with special emphasis on their psychological attributes. The objective is to determine if such a profile can provide a valuable tool for detecting perpetrators of financial crime and for implementing risk-reduction strategies.

The approach involved a review of various personality disorders and other mental health issues, as well as an analysis of a number of cases involving serious financial crime, to ascertain whether the behaviour of the perpetrators was consistent with certain psychological challenges. In addition, the study examined various motivators for the commission of the financial crime.

The research revealed some key commonalities among the perpetrators of financial crime and that their behaviour was often consistent with that of a person afflicted with a personality or other psychological disorder.

The study provides a comprehensive analysis of various personality and other psychological challenges afflicting a number of offenders involved in financial crime. It also provides some critical findings that could be valuable for those charged with establishing measures to prevent and detect financial crime.

In a previous volume of this journal Miss Shazeeda Ali made a brief analysis of the Jamaican Money Laundering Act (MLA) in which she made a number of important observations. Since that time, the MLA has been amended twice, the last time in March 1999. The purpose of this article is to highlight the main features of the amendments.

It is an undisputed fact that in the entangled web spun by money launderers no individual country or single region stands alone — each is connected by a trail of dirty dollars.

In the eternal quest to launder money, those seeking legitimacy for their wealth will transcend all frontiers, be they technological, geographic or indeed legal. As one door is shut, launderers find the key to new havens for their ill‐gotten gains. So the inevitable backlash of the strict anti money‐laundering measures adopted by the USA and Western Europe, for example, is that launderers have had to look for a more friendly environment in which to cleanse their funds.

International financial crime is without doubt one of the major challenges facing the world today. Its elimination remains a priority of world leaders and in 1998 when representatives of the G8 assembled to discuss possible solutions to critical global issues, tackling international financial crime was at the top of their agenda.

For three days in early June 1998 the General Assembly of the United Nations was imbued with an air of unity as members strove to find ‘common ground’ against the escalating drug crisis. The international community had gathered together under the auspices of a special session to contemplate a concerted approach to countering the global drug problem. The latter is perceived to be a grave threat to ‘the well‐being of mankind, the independence of states, democracy, the stability of nations, the structure of all societies, and the dignity and hope of millions of people’.

The Money Laundering Control Act (MLCA) of Taiwan' promulgated on 23rd October, 1996 and came into force on 23rd April, 1997. To date there have been 13 prosecutions and two convictions.