Justice ministry to reduce case backlog

The Ministry of Justice has stepped up plans to reduce the case backlog in the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court.



Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne said Cabinet has approved several wide ranging proposals, to clear the growing list of cases including the provision of additional courtrooms and the appointment of more staff.



The proposed plan includes the identification and provision of four additional courtrooms at the Supreme Court, to deal with criminal matters and the shifting of civil matters to caucus rooms at the Jamaica Conference Centre.



A jury box is to be created as well as more space for witnesses and a dock for accused persons in the four additional courtrooms.



The Horizon Remand Centre will be used to hear bail applications for the Supreme Court and Corporate Area Criminal Court jurisdictions.



A team from the Justice Ministry, Chief Justice McCalla and representatives of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is to conduct a site visit to the Horizon Centre to determine its suitability.



There is to be an increase in the number of judges, masters, prosecutors and staff for the Supreme Court and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.



Legislative amendments are to be put in place to bring the proposed measures into effect.



In addition the Judicature Act is to be amended to increase the number of judges from 26 to 32 and the number of clerks in the criminal registry by 4.