B.C.'s next chapter on justice reform focuses on innovative, front-line operations that will help improve public safety, promote early resolution and give British Columbians alternatives to resolving legal issues in court.

A Timely, Balanced Justice System, part two of B.C.'s justice reform white paper, presents 33 commitments that address both public safety and access to justice in administrative, civil, family and criminal law settings. The white paper continues government's response to senior lawyer Geoffrey Cowper's independent recommendations and recommendations from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.

A draft of the British Columbia Policing and Community Safety Plan is also being released today to give the public a final opportunity for consultation. When complete, the policing plan will guide the evolution of a modern policing and law enforcement framework for British Columbia. Findings and strategies from a previous public engagement process are reflected in the policing plan, as well as priorities for change identified from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry and the Ministry of Justice's broader justice reform initiative outlined in the two white papers.

The activities listed in the second white paper are a combination of short-term actions the B.C. government is immediately pursuing and longer-term visionary ideas for reforms that guide reforms over the coming years.

The white paper also sets targets for the activities that government has committed to achieving in 2013 including opening a new Justice Access Centre in Victoria, appointing an acting chair for a Civil Resolution Tribunal, working with the advisory committee on the safety and security of vulnerable women, chaired by the Honourable Steven Point, and working with stakeholders to consider models of service delivery ranging from further integration to the regional delivery of police services while retaining local community-focused policing.

The white paper will serve as a road map for ongoing, longer-term reform actions and it makes commitments to:

• Support the Legal Services Society to expand criminal and family legal aid services.
• Shift traffic ticket disputes out of court to an administrative tribunal.
• Expand existing community-based restorative justice approaches to crime through community accountability programs.
• Continue to work with stakeholders to define policing responsibilities and develop options for funding models.
• Determine whether missing persons' legislation should be enacted in B.C.
• Create standards and protocols for missing persons and other complex investigations to ensure co-operation and co-ordination among police agencies.
• Examine how services and supports to vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime can be improved.
• Work with communities to expand domestic violence units that bring together police, victim services and child protection workers to ensure an integrated approach to these cases.
• Develop a framework for the establishment of domestic violence and other specialized courts.

The B.C. government's justice reform activities are a key commitment of the Families First Agenda, which strives to ensure that families have access to justice services and feel safe at home and in their communities. To read the agenda, share your ideas or provide feedback, visit: http://www.familiesfirstbc.ca/

Quotes:

Minister of Justice Shirley Bond -

"The second part of B.C.'s action plan on justice reform details our path for future change and offers an innovative plan that's focused on improving access to front-line services within the resources that are currently available."

"We have outlined a clear, responsible strategy that includes short-term activities and a long-term vision that will guide our reforms and our investments in the coming years."

Quick Facts:

• B.C.'s justice reform activities are intended to address the dilemma that British Columbia, like other jurisdictions, face rising costs and delays, although crime rate is down and there is no increase in case load.

• Government initiated a number of activities beginning in 2011, including writing a green paper that identified system-wide challenges, appointing Geoffrey Cowper to complete an independent review, and releasing a white paper in response to Cowper's recommendations.

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

• The B.C. Policing Plan is organized around five themes, and within the five themes, 16 action items are identified that will guide the evolution of policing over the next three, five and 10 years.

Learn More:

Read White Paper Part Two: A Timely and Balances Justice System:http://www.justicebc.ca/shared/pdfs/WhitePaperTwo.pdf

Review British Columbia Policing and Community Safety Plan:http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/policeservices/publications-index/docs/BCPolicingPlan.pdf

Read White Paper Part One: A Modern, Transparent Justice System: http://www.justicebc.ca/shared/pdfs/WhitePaperOne.pdf

View Geoffrey Cowper's report and recommendations:http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/justice-reform/pdf/CowperFinalReport.pdf

Read the B.C. government's green paper, Modernizing B.C.'s Justice System: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public/JusticeSystemReviewGreenPaper.pdf

Two backgrounders follow.

Contact:

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

BACKGROUNDER 1

Justice reform accomplishments

Government's second white paper builds on A Modern, Transparent Justice System, released in October 2012. B.C.'s first white paper outlined 10 activities that laid the foundation for achieving sustainable reform by reducing backlog, improving access to justice and increasing transparency.

B.C. has made significant progress on the action items detailed in white paper one, including:

• Appointing nine new Provincial Court judges to address caseload pressure throughout the Province.

• Planning an inaugural Justice Summit for March 2013 to bring together justice system leaders to discuss the progress and direction of reforms.

• Planning to introduce legislation to create the Justice and Public Safety Council and to support court reform and data transparency.

• Responding immediately to the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry by appointing the Honourable Steven Point to chair a new advisory committee on the safety and security of vulnerable women to provide advice on implementing the commission recommendations.

• Signing a protocol agreement with the Office of the Chief Judge to work together on two court backlog reduction projects.

Contact:

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

BACKGROUNDER 2

BC Policing and Community Safety Plan posted for feedback

A draft version of the BC Policing and Community Safety Plan is now available for public and stakeholder feedback on the BC Policing Plan website at: blog.gov.bc.ca/bcpolicingplan

The plan is the result of extensive stakeholder and public engagement activities throughout B.C. in 2012. It is influenced by current global trends, drivers of change unique to B.C. and the emerging challenges facing policing. The recommendations from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry also influenced the direction of the plan.

Members of the public are urged to read the plan and submit feedback. Comments can be emailed to: bcpolicingplan@gov.bc.ca

A final version of the plan will be posted following the consultation period. The plan outlines 16 action items, organized under five themes:

Rational and Equitable: Policing is structured, governed and funded in a rational and equitable manner

Action #1: Enhance structure and funding options for policing

Action #2: Enhance the continuum of policing and public security options available

Action #3: First Nations Policing

Accountable: Policing policy is public policy and police are accountable to civilian authority.

Action #4: Enhance community engagement

Action #5: Strengthen police board ability to effectively govern

Action #6: Support bias-free and equitable policing

Action #7: Develop provincial policing standards

Collaborative: Police, governments and communities work collaboratively to meet justice and community safety goals.

Action #8: Enhance community safety (Crime Prevention and Crime Reduction)

Action #9: Support anti-gang initiatives

Action #10: Multi-agency consultation and collaboration

Protection of vulnerable persons: Police and the provincial government are committed to protecting vulnerable persons.

Action #11: Support cultural awareness training

Action #12: Develop police-related strategies for persons in crisis with mental illness and/or addictions

Action #13: Legal reforms to protect vulnerable and marginalized persons

Effective: Police have modern tools, information and training to deliver effective policing services.

Action #14: Enhanced criminal intelligence

Action #15: Performance management based on quality police data

Action #16: Review Police Act

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961