The lawyer hired by the government to overhaul B-C’s justice system has delivered his final report to Attorney General Shirley Bond.
But a call for more funding is not among Geoffrey Cowper’s recommendations.
Instead, Cowper calls for more emphasis on resolving matters before formal charges are laid, the creation of a new Criminal Justice and Public Safety Council to manage and measure performance of the court system.
He also recommends provincial judges be appointed to a term of seven years, and increasing the use of web-based technology to create transparency in the court system.
Cowper was appointed to review the system, as thousands of cases continue to be at risk of being dismissed due to lengthy court delays.
Meanwhile, the Legal Services Society has also tabled its report on ways to reform legal aid.
It includes a call for more duty counsel for both criminal and family more use of video bail, and more community-based advice services for family mediation.
The report notes new legal aid initiatives are not possible without more money, but they believe a small investment can lead to savings elsewhere in the future.
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