Justice Adrian Saunders, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), recently highlighted the critical repercussions of an inefficient criminal justice system on societal harmony, economic stability, and legal integrity in the Caribbean. 

He emphasized these points during last month’s opening of the seventh Biennial Law Conference organized by the CCJ Academy for Law.

The intricacies of the criminal justice network

Saunders pointed out the complexity of the criminal justice system, citing its network of diverse roles from police and prisons to lawyers and judges, among others. 

He stressed the necessity of coordination among these various entities to ensure the system’s overall effectiveness.

The urgency of criminal justice reform

The theme of the conference, ‘Criminal Justice Reform in the Caribbean- Achieving a Modern Criminal Justice System,’ was described by Saunders as particularly relevant given the high rates of crime troubling the region. 

– Advertisement –

He reflected on the discussions held at a Caricom symposium earlier in the year, which framed crime as a public health issue and explored regional solutions.

Continuing the dialogue for change

Saunders praised the academy’s efforts in extending the conversation on criminal justice reform and gathering stakeholders to contribute towards actionable solutions. 

He recalled a past address where he noted the evident shortcomings of the criminal justice system in Caricom states, including spiraling crime rates and inefficient case management.

– Advertisement –

The consequences of inefficiency

The CCJ President, the third Caribbean national to lead the court since its establishment, expressed that the flaws within the justice system erode public trust and create frustration among all parties involved in the legal process. 

He highlighted the serious repercussions of such a system on community cohesion and economic health.

A collaborative approach to reform

Saunders conveyed the conference’s commitment to collaborative solution-seeking among judicial and law enforcement stakeholders, with a focus not just on discussion but on concrete progress and improvement for the people of the Caribbean.

A comprehensive agenda for change

The conference, according to the CCJ Academy for Law, aimed to spur active dialogue and develop substantial recommendations for meaningful alterations within the criminal justice system. 

The agenda included topics such as the importance of pre-trial proceedings, plea bargaining, crime and economic development, civil asset forfeiture, victims’ rights, anti-gang legislation, modern evidence-gathering techniques, judge-alone trials, and sentencing, among others.