A JOINT select committee of Parliament will begin examining new plea-bargaining legislation at Gordon House this morning.
The legislation is intended to assist the Government in its attempts to bring major criminal operatives to justice.
Approved by Cabinet earlier this year, the Criminal Justice (Plea Negotiation and Agreement) Bill was expected to be approved by Parliament before the end of the 2004/2005 legislative year.
The legislation is intended to allow a person charged with an offence to enter into an agreement with the prosecution through an attorney.
An accused person would be given the opportunity to plead guilty to a lesser offence, on the agreement that he or she would testify against other persons higher up in the criminal world.
The legislation has been described as a necessary tool to enhance the work of Operation Kingfish, the high profile police initiative to bring the 'big fish' of the Jamaican criminal network to book.
During the deliberations of the committee, the public and interest groups are expected to give their opinions on the legislation.
