Results of British Columbia's second Justice Summit, which focused on how to improve British Columbia's criminal justice system, will be available next month.

A report will first be delivered to Attorney General and Justice Minister Suzanne Anton and the Chief Justices and Chief Judge of the Province's three courts. It will summarize the recent meeting of approximately 70 justice leaders, one purpose of which was to inform the Province's first justice and public safety strategic plan. As set out by recently passed legislation, the plan is to be completed by March 2014, and updated every year.

The November 2013 Justice Summit brought together leaders from the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, federal and provincial justice and public safety agencies, Crown counsel, the defence bar, police, legal aid administrators, municipalities, community agencies involved in criminal justice, the Aboriginal community and the academic community.

This diverse group of participants met last week, Nov. 8-9, at the University of British Columbia for a dialogue about British Columbia's criminal justice system, its performance and strategic direction. Over the course of two days, participants focused on how to create a justice system that better reflects and serves the values identified at the inaugural Justice Summit held last March: http://www.justicebc.ca/en/rm/inaugural.html

A regular Justice Summit was one of the recommendations made by Geoffrey Cowper, Q.C., in his report, A Criminal Justice System for the 21st Century: Final Report to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public/justice-reform/CowperFinalReport.pdf

This report was delivered to government in August 2012.

Government committed to this in the White Paper on Justice Reform - Part 1: A Modern, Transparent Justice System: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public/WhitePaperOne.pdf

This white paper was released Oct. 22, 2012, and included Justice Summits in the Justice Reform and Transparency Act passed in spring 2013:

www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/justice-reform-transp-act/index.htm

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Justice
Richelle Funk, Government Communication and Public Engagement
250 387-6708

Court of Appeal of British Columbia and Supreme Court of British Columbia
Heidi McBride, Legal Counsel
604 660-2750

Provincial Court of British Columbia
Gene Jamieson, Q.C., Legal Officer
604 660-2864