Jamaica's legal system is essentially a four-tiered structure comprising, in ascending order, the resident magistrate's courts, the circuit courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The first two are courts of instance, and the last two are, respectively, intermediate and final courts of appeal. The state provides legal aid for those unable to afford it, but this system is not working perfectly. The names of few senior counsels appear in a roster of attorneys assigned to such cases; in fact, three-quarters of all legal aid assignments in murder cases are handled by attorneys with an average of 4-years experience. The stature of Jamaica's judiciary personnel has diminished since the country's independence. Absence of learning, dedication, sensitivity to the maintenance of ideals, and above all, absence of integrity are noticeable. The present penal system affords judges little scope to apply a rehabilitative approach in sentencing. Efforts must be made to arrest criminals quickly; to create an intelligent, resourceful, and independent police force to speed up the trial processes of the courts; to improve the legal aid system and upgrade judiciary personnel; and to introduce a parole system. Without such changes, Jamaica's criminal justice system will never gain public acceptance.