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| Sheriff shortages hurt safety, justice |
| By abbotsfordtimes.com - Rochelle Baker |
| Published: 06/16/2011 |
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Sheriffs and lawyers are increasingly concerned about how government cuts and a lack of officers is impacting the safety and administration of justice at courthouses, including those in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The province recently slashed the equivalent of 34 sheriffs' positions despite the fact the union and even some judges were already citing a severe lack of resources. Dean Purdy of the B.C. Government and Service Employee's Union (BCGSEU) said judges in Kelowna and Victoria recently closed their courtrooms due to a lack of sheriffs. "The government needs to hire more sheriffs and judges in order to speed up the administration of justice, because right now it barely exists and these criminals are walking while victims are the ones being punished for it," said Purdy, who recently toured Abbotsford and Chilliwack courthouses to see how sheriff shortages are impacting operations here. "They've been scrambling in Abbotsford and Chilliwack to provide security for a judge so he or she can run their courtroom," he said. Additionally, delays in court cases and safety risks are apparent at both courthouses because staffing shortages don't allow for a "roving" officer to act as a first responder to security incidents in the courthouses. "If there is a security incident in any of the courtrooms or in the building . . . now it has to be a deputy sheriff assigned to a courtroom who must leave it unattended to respond to the situation." As such, judges have to stand down and shut down their courtroom on a regular basis and this causes delays to justice, Purdy said On Wednesday, a B.C. Supreme Court criminal trial was shut down in Vancouver due to a lack of sheriffs. The Trial Lawyers Association of BC (TSABC) stated that the incident only reflects the stress on the justice system weakened by an overall lack of resources and court time. Read More. |
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