New prosecutors undergo training
Frustration over the number of cases that are thrown out of court and the criminals who are getting away because their case was inadequately prepared by the police prosecutors has lead the judicial commission to beef up the prosecutions branch. This week a training session is being held to help the new civilian prosecutors effectively present a case in the courtroom. It is believed the civilians will have more time to investigate and properly prepare, and hopefully get more convictions.
According to Adolph Lucas, the Director of Public Prosecution one of the weaknesses in the system was that police had so many other duties to perform, they are unable to dedicate the time that is needed.
Adolph Lucas, Director of Public Prosecution
“On weekends they must be working like other policemen. They have staff duties and when you have celebrations on, they do that sort of work and prosecution is a task by itself and it needs preparation. Preparation is required for successful prosecution.”
Attorney General Dickie Bradley agrees that it is impossible to perform both roles effectively.
Dickie Bradley, Attorney General
“Prosecution requires full time focus and attention. You can’t be on call for any other duty but to prosecute. Prosecution requires a serious background and grounding in the area of the law, in the area of evidence and in the area of courtroom strategy and approach. It requires the ability to spend the time speaking with your witnesses and going over the evidence available from the file.”
He believes that if the six new civilian prosecutors work hard and prepare their cases well, they will be able to win their cases, even against experienced attorneys. The prosecutors, who will be trained for a period of six weeks, have undergone paralegal studies and are looking forward to the challenge.
James Banner, Civilian Prosecutor
“I think all of us wanted to work in the legal field. We are thankful that we are given this opportunity. We all think that the magistrate system in itself needs some revamping and we are just happy to be a part of that.”
Aria Rowland, Civilian Prosecutor
“Well for the past month and a half I have been going to court with the police presently doing the prosecution at the magistrate level. And yes I have seen things that could be done differently, sometimes lack of preparation as mentioned by the D.P.P. which I feel is no fault of their own but I have seen things that could be changed.”
Lionel Castillo, Civilian Prosecutor
“We are going to demand more from the police that they must, it is not a police demanding a police, it is the D.P.P. who is going to demand the police that they must prepare the case file.”
Stephanie Gillett, Civilian Prosecutor
“What I can say is that I am disappointed in the lack of preparation on the part of some people who are in the judiciary. I think that we require much more hard work to get this job done and also that we need more preparation on the part of the key people who are involved in the profession. I am grateful for the training; I think it is a positive step in the right direction.”
The seminar, which will be conducted by Sharon Frazer, Senior Crown Counsel, will cover areas such as the judge’s rules, evidence, procedure and the law as it pertains to searches.
The Attorney General says funds are being allocated to paint the Supreme Court. The Family Court will be relocated and the Magistrate’s Court will be refurbished.
