Geoffrey Cowper, QC, the independent chair conducting the review of B.C.'s criminal justice system, has delivered the first of several progress reports to Justice Minister and Attorney General Shirley Bond.

Since appointed to head up the justice reform initiative in February, Cowper has met with more than 60 people, created an online discussion forum for British Columbians to post reform ideas, and is receiving formal submissions through the justice review website - www.bcjusticereform.ca

The deadline for making submissions through the website is May 30, 2012.

In his progress report, Cowper says he has completed his preliminary work and in his next update he will address what measures are capable of being implemented in the short-term that could improve outcomes in the system. His work is being done over three phases, some of which will overlap and include:

• Meeting with stakeholders and the public to learn what measures would achieve a more effective process and better outcomes.

• Developing specific reform proposals.

• Identifying measures and completing the final report.

Cowper has been asked by the Province to identify barriers to timely criminal justice and measures to improve the system's outcomes, as well as look for new ways that collaboration and co-operation can be fostered among various justice system participants. The B.C. government's Green Paper, Modernizing B.C.'s Justice System, provides the foundation for this review.

To date he has consulted with representatives of the judiciary, defence bar, Crown Counsel, Legal Services Society, police and corrections. In addition he has met with Gary McQuaig, QC, to discuss his report on the charge approval process being done as part of the reform initiative.

Cowper will deliver his final report to government in July 2012. It will be posted on the Justice Reform Initiative website along with today's update and future ones expected in April and May.

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. government invests over $1 billion annually in public safety and the justice system.

• In the past six years crime in B.C. has dropped 33 per cent, and is 45 per cent lower than its all time high in 1991.

• Expenditures on adult criminal justice personnel and processes have increased by 35 per cent since 2005.

• The number of new Provincial Court adult criminal and youth cases has declined, but the average amount of court time to conclude them has increased.

• The length of time to conclude adult and youth criminal cases has remained stable.

• The length of time people wait on remand for their trial is increasing.

• B.C.'s justice system employs more than 15,000 highly trained people.

Learn More:

View the progress report and give your ideas about how to improve the justice system on the British Columbia Justice Reform Initiative here:

www.bcjusticereform.ca

Read the B.C. government's Green Paper, "Modernizing B.C.'s Justice System", here:

http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public/JusticeSystemReviewGreenPaper.pdf

Read the news release about the B.C. government's justice system reform initiative here:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/02/further-action-on-justice-reform-launched.html

To see current court and caseload information, visit the data dashboard at:

www.justicebc.ca

Contact:

Jeff Groot
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 387-4965

Emma Dear
Executive Director
Justice Reform Initiative
604 631-3176
edear@bcjusticereform.ca