An additional deputy sheriff is taking a post at the Prince George Courthouse, and hopes are that
increased resources will result in more successful completion of trials.
In Prince George, judges stayed charges against suspects five times between August 2010 and Sept. 2011 because of a lack of court resources, including a lack of a sheriff. The range of charges included assault causing bodily harm, impaired driving, cocaine
trafficking and a speeding ticket.
The additional deputy sheriff will come to Prince George following the graduation of a new class of sheriffs in April.
On Monday a class of 24 sheriffs in training began their training at the Justice Institute of B.C. Attorney General Shirley Bond said she believes one of the recruits will be stationed in Prince George once their training is complete. Currently 22 sheriffs are
stationed in Prince George.
"Just a few months ago, the Prince George courthouse received four new sheriffs from the last recruit class," Bond said. "The latest class started this week at the Justice Institute of British Columbia and I am confident the new recruits will go where they are needed the most across the province."
However the provincial justice system continues to be underfunded, according to Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. spokesperson Bentley Doyle said.
"Our concern is the system is underfunded, and that remains," Doyle said. "There is a lack of resources ... and justice is already slow."
Doyle cited recent reports that B.C. Court of Appeal Justices Justice Catherine Ryan, Mary Saunders and Peter Lowry upheld the decision of B.C. Supreme Court Judge Peter Leask's decision to stay charges of cocaine trafficking against two men because it took more than 62 months for their case to reach trial.
In May 2011 the provincial government cut the equivalent of 34 full-time sheriff positions.
The move resulted in judges delaying or halting trials across the province as a result of safety
concerns.
Sheriffs provide security at B.C. courts and transport prisoners to and from court proceedings.
The Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. raised concerns about the safety of B.C.'s courts.
According to a spokesperson for the Attorney General's office, the number of sheriffs assigned to the Prince George Courthouse was 19 in 2000 and 21 in 2006.
That number dropped to 18 in 2011, prior to the addition of four positions in November.
"Our government is hiring and training sheriffs and this is a key part of our investment in the justice system," Bond said. "With 14 provincial court judges appointed over two years and the ongoing hiring of both sheriffs and court administration staff, we continue to invest critical resources in the justice system.
"That said, we know that during these difficult economic times, there is not an unlimited supply of funding government can provide. That's why we must continue to ask the tough questions about a system that needs reform, as well as look for additional resources where appropriate and possible."
In addition to hiring more staff, the province is examining new technology and looking to increase the efficiency of the court system, Bond added.
