Legislation introduced today supports a more efficient justice system with increased transparency and stronger co-operation across the justice and public safety sector announced Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond.

The Justice Reform and Transparency Act will, if passed, fulfil key recommendations made in Geoffrey Cowper's review of B.C.'s justice system, enable many of the action items outlined in the White Paper on Justice Reform (Part One), and advance other justice reform initiatives that will create a more transparent, timely and balanced justice system for British Columbia.

The first part of the act establishes the roles and responsibilities of the Justice and Public Safety Council recommended by Cowper. The council will set strategic direction, support co-operation and co-ordinate decision-making across the justice and public safety sector.

The proposed act also requires a Justice Summit at least once a year to encourage innovation and collaboration across the justice and public safety sector. Planning is underway for the inaugural summit.

The second part of the act includes legislative amendments focused on reforms that will support increased efficiencies in judicial administration. One of the amendments to the Provincial Court Act will legislate the term of the chief judge, currently five years, at seven years. This will give the chief judge more time to develop and carry out longer term planning.

The Justice Reform and Transparency Act also provides the framework for agreements with all three levels of court in British Columbia in support of the white paper's goals for promoting and measuring the effective administration of justice.

Introduction of the act is only one part of government's initiative to make the justice system more transparent, timely and balanced. Earlier today, the white paper on justice reform (part two) was released with a focus on innovative, front-line operations that will improve public safety, early resolution, and alternatives to resolving legal issues in court.

Quote:

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"Geoffrey Cowper recommended in his final report that we improve how justice participants collaborate, change the way judicial resources are aligned with workload demands, and do a better job reporting back to British Columbians on how their justice system is performing. The Justice Reform and Transparency Act will meet all of these needs by establishing a Justice and Public Safety Council, requiring regular justice summits, allowing for more effective judicial administration of the courts, and with clearly defined performance measures. By following through on Cowper's recommendations, the Justice Reform and Transparency Act will start to turn into reality government's vision for a timely, transparent and balanced justice system."

Learn More:

About the Justice Reform and Transparency Act: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/new.htm

About the White Paper on Justice Reform, Part One: A Modern Transparent Justice System: www.justicebc.ca/shared/pdfs/WhitePaperOne.pdf

About the White Paper on Justice Reform, Part Two: www.justicebc.ca/shared/pdfs/WhitePaperTwo.pdf

About Geoffrey Cowper's report A Criminal Justice System for the 21st Century: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public/justice-reform/CowperFinalReport.pdf

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

James Beresford
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6423

BACKGROUNDER

Justice Reform and Transparency Act

Introduction of the proposed Justice Reform and Transparency Act is the next step in the B.C. justice reform initiative.

Justice and Public Safety Council

• It will provide a planning and accountability framework for the justice system - everything from provincially funded crime prevention and policing, through courts, to victim services and offender management.

• It will be a focal point for justice system strategy and reform, performance planning, and reporting.

• It will be responsible for developing an annual Justice and Public Safety Plan, along with an annual performance report.

• It will be supported by special advisory boards that will provide expertise and guidance on specific criminal, civil, family, administrative justice and public safety matters.

• It will collect, use and publish specific data and information from the justice and public safety sector. This could include performance targets such as the rate that criminal cases are moving through the system - from offence through investigation, prosecution, appeal and sentence.

Justice Summit

• The proposed act requires that a justice summit be held at least once a year to encourage innovation and collaboration across the sector. Summits will also be forums for discussions about how the system is performing and how it can be improved.

• A justice summit for B.C. is an action item in the white paper on justice reform.

• Justice summits are regularly held in other jurisdictions, for example, Ontario.

Legislative Amendments

• Amendments to the Provincial Court Act will clarify and enhance the administrative role of the chief judge of the Provincial Court and support increased efficiency in the administration of the court.

• Extending the term of the chief judge of the Provincial Court from five years to seven years will give chief judges appointed in the future enough time to develop and implement longer term planning and administration.

• The Supreme Court Act will be amended to enable the chief justice to assign judges to court locations of greatest need.

• The Police Act will allow the director of police services to develop standards for the collection and use of aggregate information related to policing and law enforcement.

• Providing the B.C. justice system with better administrative tools is an action item in the white paper on justice reform.

Memoranda of Understanding

• Key themes in the white paper on justice reform are to create a common understanding to make good decisions with the right data, and to maintain a sharp focus on evidence-based performance management.

• To that end, the Justice Reform and Transparency Act provides for the Minister of Justice to enter into agreements with each of the three levels of court on issues such as measuring effective court administration and public reporting.

Contact:

James Beresford
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6423