Courts with temporary magistrates operating from 4 pm are set to tackle the case backlog that has resulted in prison overcrowding and the initiative may cost around $25m.
The temporary magistrates operating after normal hours was one of the proposals that had been floated at a meeting earlier this month between the government and the judiciary in the aftermath of the March 3rd fire that claimed 17 lives at the Camp Street prison.
In a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister of Public Security and Vice President, Khemraj Ramjattan, said that the proposed night courts would “start from 4pm (16:00 hours) and go on into the nighttime so it will have a little daytime aspect to it.”
The Minister said he is keen to have the Court sessions last for at least four hours.
Ramjattan noted in the GINA release that the idea of temporary magistrates was put forward by Chancellor (ag.), Justice Carl Singh during the recent high level meeting. He said the Chancellor suggested that this measure be used over a period of at least six months.
Ramjattan stated that a recent report on the judicial system has been completed and this would form the basis for action. He disclosed that the report also looked at prisoners who could be given probation or community service for less severe sentences.
The Minister added that the temporary magistrates would be qualified lawyers who would serve in addition to the sitting magistrates.
The use of more police ranks or probation officers to supervise persons sentenced to do community service would also be initiated, Ramjattan revealed, noting that the current method of having the police or probation ranks dictate the type of community sentence to be served, would have to be changed.
The cost of these and other measures, including salaries for the temporary magistrates and ancillary staff, has been estimated to about $25 million dollars, GINA said. The Finance Minister has given his approval for the release of the funds and according to Ramjattan, Justice Singh has been notified of this.
Besides overcrowding, the executive and judicial teams at the March 16 meeting identified the need for strict enforcement of ticketing for traffic violations, where the regulations apply, instead of motorists being told to appear before the courts.
The teams were further told that the DPP would continue the process of nolle prosequi in High Court matters where victims and complainants could not be located, after careful judicial review of the circumstances of each case.
Both the Government and judicial sides expressed the view that as far as possible, the police should take the relevant statements and fully prepare cases for the prosecution before charges are laid. If that were done, it would prevent the remand of alleged offenders to prison pending the gathering of further evidence or advice from the DPP, as the case may be. Both sides also acknowledged the need for a review of sentencing guidelines and the reform of laws to allow the exercise by Magistrates of greater discretion in imposing sentences, including for drug-related offences.
