DISTRICT PROSECUTORS DESPERATE FOR HELP AND FUNDING
Today February 25th 2022, prosecutors published an outcry for help and funding.
Read the original press release in french here: L'Association des procureurs aux poursuites criminelles et pénales dénonce le manque criant de ressources - Justice de « brousse » dans le Nord-du-Québec au détriment des victimes.
Nunavik victims of crimes and survivors deserve much better.
Below is an english translation of the press release (via google translate):
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The Association of Criminal and Penal Prosecuting Attorneys denounces the glaring lack of resources - "Bush" justice in Nord-du-Québec to the detriment of victims
NEWS PROVIDED BYL ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTORS WITH CRIMINAL AND PENAL PROSECUTION
Feb 25, 2022, 05:00 ET
QUEBEC, Feb. 25. 28, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - The Association of Criminal and Penal Prosecuting Attorneys (APPCP) denounces the lack of resources that creates true "bush" justice in Nord-du-Québec. In these offices of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), the majority of victims suffer from insufficient or even non-existent support. Trial preparation is compromised because prosecutors are overwhelmed and overwhelmed by the complexity and burden of the tasks entrusted to them. These disturbing findings emerge from a survey conducted by the APPCP among its members working in Nord-du-Québec.
The consultation carried out with 27 prosecutors out of 28, that is to say almost all of the prosecutors of the DPCP's offices in Amos, Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or, which also serve some twenty other communities via the itinerant court in light of extremely difficult conditions.
A system about to give way
Prosecutors working in Nord-du-Québec have to authorize and manage several hundred prosecutions per year, particularly during the terms of the itinerant court. The reality of this court requires many trips and unfortunately compromises the preparation of trials. Like a flying circus (this is how the communities have dubbed the phenomenon), prosecutors go back and forth on court days to chain hearings, without having time to adequately prepare victims. and upstream witnesses.
The prosecutors are also overwhelmed and overwhelmed by the complexity and heaviness of the cases; only one in three respondents claim to have the knowledge and level of autonomy necessary to accomplish their tasks.
In the Nord-du-Québec offices, the turnover rate is very high. There is great difficulty in retaining manpower, which means that the majority of prosecutors have less than five years of experience. In addition, it should be noted that in Amos's office, the majority have less than two years of experience, whereas they are the ones who serve the itinerant court for the communities of the Far North, where the needs are particularly great and where complex domestic violence and sexual assault cases require a high level of involvement and preparation.
The pressures on the mental health of prosecutors are heavy. Episodes of work-related distress are very frequent: nearly a third of respondents have even been absent due to exhaustion in the past two years.
In addition, half of respondents are unable to take vacations when they need them and almost a third have been denied vacations due to “need for service”. Thus, half of them have already taken concrete steps to change points of service or to resign.
Quotes
“There is an urgent need to act to provide Nord-du-Québec with a justice system worthy of the name. The victims of this region must not continue to suffer this bush justice. It is necessary to add an adequate number of prosecutors and support staff, to improve the frequency of the itinerant court and to improve support for victims. The needs are enormous. Prosecutors are sounding the alarm. »
- Guillaume Michaud, president of the Association of criminal and penal prosecuting attorneys.
A few excerpts from the investigation into the situation of prosecutors in Nord-du-Québec
"It's heartbreaking to the point where I can't remember a week in the last few months where I haven't seen one or even several prosecutors cry or have their eyes filled with tears..."
“Many cases are handed over to us, without us having the required experience, or, at the limit, adequate support. I am mainly talking about cases involving sexual assault or violence against children. »
“I'm losing a lot of hope in the work we're doing. I feel like we're not helping anyone, especially right now. The service offered is poor. »
About APPCP
The APPCP represents the approximately 700 Quebec prosecutors working within the DPCP. It is a key player in the criminal and penal justice system, in Quebec and in Canada.
SOURCE ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTORS FOR CRIMINAL AND PENAL PROSECUTION