Staff
The province is moving forward with a plan to make the criminal justice system faster and fairer by implementing programs to help reduce time-to-trial and improve the bail system in the region.
The Ministry of the Attorney General announced yesterday it is hiring two new assistant Crown attorneys in Kenora to help reduce time-to-trial.
These new resources may be assigned to assist other court locations as needed to address delays.
The ministry also is assigning one new duty counsel bail co-ordinator to work in the Kenora courthouse and Kenora Correctional Facility to help expedite the bail process and ensure meaningful decisions are made.
As well, the ministry is assigning one new dedicated bail vettor Crown attorney to the Kenora courthouse to facilitate faster bail decisions and early resolutions.
The ministry also is working with indigenous friendship centres, Grand Council Treaty #3, and Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corp. to develop an Indigenous Bail Verification and Supervision Program in Kenora, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout and to develop bail liaison positions in First Nations’ communities.
This work will allow people to receive culturally-relevant services in their own communities, delivered by indigenous service providers.
In Thunder Bay, the ministry is enhancing the existing Bail Verification and Supervision Program there by increasing eligibility for services, support for mental health services, and weekend and statutory holidays court.
The ministry also is providing safe, supportive, and supervised housing for vulnerable accused people who require enhanced supervision in the community, with 20 bail beds in Thunder Bay.
In addition, of the 13 new judges announced in December, Chief Justice Lise Maisonneuve of the Ontario Court of Justice has indicated she will assign two to Northwestern Ontario (in Kenora and Thunder Bay).
By conducting a needs assessment, Ontario also will be exploring the potential development of a community justice centre model in Kenora.
These centres are designed to bring justice services, legal support, and health and community services together under one roof, and take an integrated approach to assessing and managing low-risk, vulnerable offenders.
A community justice centre could help to close service gaps for indigenous offenders through the provision of culturally-relevant, community-based services and support that are grounded in restorative principles of justice.
