The Department of Justice and Public Safety has announced $24 million dollars over the next few years for a number of new resources and technologies to assist the criminal justice system.
Minister Bernard Davis says the funding will allow for the hiring of 25 new correctional officers, 18 new Crown attorneys, 14 new deputy sheriff and a manager of court security in Labrador.
The Crown attorneys association has been calling for additional resources to address the volume of cases coming their way.
The new funding includes money for the digital transformation of the entire justice system with upgrades to systems hardware and software and the streamlining of service delivery.
In the House of Assembly today, PC MHA Pleaman Forsey raised questions about RCMP resources in rural areas, giving Justice Minister Bernard Davis an opportunity to respond.
(Pleaman Forsey/file)
Davis first chastised the Opposition, claiming they hadn’t raised the issue of public safety in the House of Assembly in over two weeks.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Davis. “(But the situation) is getting better each and every day. I know it’s not perfect but we’re trying our best to fill all those vacancies that exist, and we have a police transformation working group bringing forward recommendations. I look forward to the next question.”
