Strengthening Justice

WE ARE ENHANCING ADMINISTRATION

Supreme Court of The Bahamas

Addressing institutional shortcomings of the justice administration system to prosecute and sentence crimes successfully and in a timely manner is a top priority under this Component of the CSJP. We recognize that an ineffective court and case management system can delay and even endanger the administration of justice.

Our aim is to implement initiatives that will increase the clearance rate of completed cases by the court system and reduce the backlog of criminal cases. Every citizen who passes through these systems should do so without encountering the added burden of institutional mismanagement.

From arrest, to trial, to conviction, many stakeholders play an integral role in ensuring the timely administration of justice. These stakeholders include the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Office of the Judiciary (the Supreme and Magistrates’ Courts), the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Working together via the CSJP, these stakeholders are forging a new and improved justice administration landscape.

One of the major outputs of the CSJP is to design a system that brings technology to bear in hopes of reducing the amount of paperwork that stakeholders must distribute. By initiating this significant move for justice in The Bahamas, the CSJP will improve communication between stakeholders and enhance the scheduling and monitoring of cases, while ensuring that we have faster access to court transcripts and efficacy in representation. We achieve this by developing three areas of service: an Integrated Justice System, Electronic Case Management and Public Defender Programme.

YOUR JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION LANDSCAPE

1. Integrated Justice System:
Creates a network for information sharing between justice institutions to ensure efficient service and reduce administrative delays.

2. Electronic Case Management:
Employing technology to digitize court documents for better customer service and security. This includes the implementation of digital recording and scheduling.

3. Public Defender Programme:
A dedicated group of public defenders will be strengthened through continued training and leadership development to ensure quality representation and advocacy for clients.