New system to triage court cases in Alberta
Alberta’s overburdened justice system remains in the spotlight.
Hundreds of charges have been stayed in the province since the beginning of the year, thanks to a perfect storm of population growth, more charges, a lack of Crown prosecutors and Jordan’s Law, which imposes fixed time limits for cases to go to trial.
The province has implemented a triage system to figure out which cases to pursue. It publicly released that nine-page protocol Wednesday.
The protocol aims to “ensure, to the extent possible within these constraints, that serious and violent crime is given priority and prosecuted effectively.”
It spells out how to determine case viability, whether there’s a chance for an early resolution, and encourages efficient file management and a culture change in the justice system.
While it emphasizes tackling serious and violent crimes, it also notes that even once a file is determined to be “prosecutable ... and is serious or violent, and therefore a priority, it may still not be worth prosecuting to the fullest extent possible given the anticipated result and resources required.”
That has left opposition parties fuming, saying violent criminals will go free and victims will lose their chance for justice.
“These victims deserve every single effort to make sure violent criminals are kept behind bars for as long as possible,” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said during question period.
Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said in the wake of a case system backlog that developed over decades, the triage system gives prosecutors the tools they need to focus on serious and violent crimes.
Progressive Conservative justice critic Mike Ellis said the government needs to find efficiencies to ensure a justice system that’s equal for all Albertans.
“We’re talking about victims not going to be able to seek justice, and that is what is deeply concerning,” he said. “Whether you’re a victim of a theft of a perceived moderate or violent crime, everybody needs to be treated with the same amount of respect.”