Chronic delays undermine public faith in justice system, Senate report warns
OTTAWA — The delays plaguing the justice system have become a crisis that could result in the release of thousands of criminals, say the senators behind a new report that explores how long it takes for cases to wind their way through the courts.
“It needs to be remedied immediately,” Sen. George Baker said Friday in Ottawa as the standing Senate committee on legal and constitutional affairs released its interim report on a problem they say is eroding public confidence in the criminal justice system.
“We now have a crisis situation in this country in which you are going to see tens of thousands of persons who are guilty of serious crimes in this country released,” said Baker, a Senate Liberal.
“They will not go to jail for what they’re convicted of, simply because we have not made the proper changes in procedures relating to court operations.”