Report On Justice Reform Released
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 9:55 AM
Victoria, B.C.-The independent report on the B.C. Justice system has been released, and it puts forth several recommendations to both government and the judiciary on ways to speed up the process.
The report, “A Criminal Justice System for the 21st Century” by Geoffrey Cowper, QC, chair of the Justice Reform Initiative, offers recommendations to government and the judiciary on ways to achieve overall timeliness, improve court and judicial administration and improve the experiences of victims and the community.
Included in the review and also released today is a report from the Legal Services Society examining legal aid funding and a review of B.C.’s charge assessment process submitted by Gary McCuaig, QC.
Upcoming government action on justice reform will address the major challenges that affect public confidence in the justice system. For example, the crime rate is dropping yet there is an increase in the number of cases stayed and delayed, and provincial funding for policing and corrections is up from where it was 10 years ago.
The B.C. government is reviewing Cowper’s report and its recommendations, and in response, will develop an action plan in the form of a white paper released this fall in two stages. The white paper will also consider other reviews and consultations that have taken place under the Justice Reform Initiative, including the Legal Services Society report, McCuaig’s report, the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry report, the ongoing public engagement on policing and other current government reform projects.
Comments
The crime rate is dropping? That’s good news! That’s fantastic news! Is it accurate? My concern is that it probably is accurate as we see more and more wife beaters murders and child molesters get off scott free. The number of missing persons has never been higher. Would the fact that we seldom catch the serial killers contibute to the numbers? What never ceases to amaze me is how the life of a man, woman or child is worth nothing if an RCMP officer taseres or runs over you. I have witnessed whole families, single young innocent men, an older Polish man and even small boy loose their lives in my lifetime to the police. I have witnessed a man shoot his wife and two men rape a chid and murder her and all live fully productive happy lives with their families. Where is the respect and justice for the victims? This is Canada! This is BC! All victims families know I’m right.
Ditto!
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