BC court system needs more judges, technology: reform chair
Posted August 30, 2012 2:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) -BC’s criminal justice system needs to make major improvements to speed up slow-moving cases, ease heavy caseloads, and address a lack of modern technology. But more funding may not be the answer.
These are the main findings of a major independent report into BC’s criminal justice system that was ordered by Attorney General Shirley Bond earlier this year. The report finds there is a “culture of delay,” as cases are moving through the courts far too slowly. A new timeline from the scheduling process is needed to speed things up.
Justice Reform Initiative Chair Geoffrey Cowper says more money for the justice system is not the all-fix solution and argues problems can be addressed through the current funding structure. He recommends, however, that the government appoint five new judges to ease a significant backlog of court cases.
The report finds there is an increase in the number of cases stayed and delayed despite a dropping crime rate, an increase to police, and corrections funding over the last decade. Cowper believes a province-wide crime reduction strategy is needed, though his report seemed to have little but praise for the efforts of police in BC.
Cowper also recommends new timelines to speed up cases and a better process for court scheduling. He says the courts need to develop a web-based system to help the public and the media stay up to speed with court cases as well.
“Establishing a system-wide metric for timeliness will help make the system accountable to the public in terms that are real to them, and it will respond directly to their demand for timely resolutions,” he says. “Early, principled resolution of criminal cases would improve both the operation of the system, public confidence in the system, and the outcomes we all expect.”
“The community looks at the criminal justice system and also asks itself, ‘Why does it take so long for a case to get resolved?” Cowper adds, citing months of province-wide research.
He notes how quickly rioters in London, UK were dealt with. “A lot of people here went, ‘woah, hold on a second – that’s pretty startling – should we do that?’ And so I think the public is on to the fact that we can actually work faster and we need to respond to that.”
Cowper wants a new council within the Justice Ministry to be created to ensure all of the changes he recommends are implemented. That council would ensure regular reporting, meetings with court and government officials, and follow-ups on report recommendations.
Justice Minister Shirley Bond agrees court cases are moving through the system far too slow, but isn’t convinced that adding five new judges tomorrow would fix anything.
“I’m not going to decide today that we’re going to add five new judges,” Bond affirms. “I’m going to carefully consider that request. I think that the theme that has been demonstrated within the report is the need to address the issue of backlog.”
“What matters to me most is outcomes,” she adds. “It’s not speed for the sake of speed. We need to be sure that the appropriate outcomes are safe for communities. Ensuring that victims have the appropriate access. Those kinds of issues were all reflected in the report.”
Bond says she needs to take more time to review the report and its recommendations before making any commitments, but she insists a complete reform of the Criminal Justice System is a priority.
“We didn’t ask the question about reform so we could see the report gather dust,” she says. “It is time for us to demonstrate to the public that we can make meaningful and systemic change.”
Bond will be out with her ministry’s action plan on the report in the Fall.
The people behind Legal Aid hope reforms in the justice system will mean money can be re-allocated for their organization.
The Legal Services Society of BC also released a report finding its structure isn’t working, and they are not able to attract and retain lawyers or provide adequate service.
A mandate from the Justice Ministry required the society not ask for more money.
Read more on the Justice Reform Initiative.
