The Final Report on Early Case Consideration of the Steering Committee on Justice Efficiencies and Access to the Justice System

Table of Contents

• Background
• Criminal Case Flow Management
• Changing Legal Culture
• The Mandate of the Early Case Consideration Subcommittee
• A. Early Police/Prosecution Linkages
  • Recommendation One: Pre-Charge Involvement of Crown Counsel
  • Recommendation Two : Standard Checklist for Crown Brief and Disclosure
• B. Police Release from Custody
  • Recommendation Three: Police Education and use of Police Discretion
  • Recommendation Four: Modernizing Police Powers of Release
  • Recommendation Five: Information Sheets for Accused Persons
• C. Bail/Remand
  • Recommendation Six: Bail Application Officers
  • Recommendation Seven: Weekend Bail Courts
  • Recommendation Eight: Bail Supervision and verification Programmes
  • Recommendation Nine: Use of Crown Discretion
  • Recommendation Ten: Reverse Onus Bail Provisions
  • Recommendation Eleven: Surety Approval Mechanisms
  • Recommendation Twelve: Court-Detention Centre Communication Protocol
  • Recommendation Thirteen: Use of Audio/Video Remand Systems
  • Recommendation Fourteen: Availability of Crown Briefs
  • Recommendation Fifteen: Bail Hearing Information
  • Recommendation Sixteen: Expedited Disclosure Following Detention Order
• D. Early Resolution Mechanisms
  • Recommendation Seventeen: Case Management Teams
  • Recommendation Eighteen: Early and Meaningful Charge Screening
  • Recommendation Nineteen: Case Conferences Between Counsel
  • Recommendation Twenty: Judicial Pre-Trials
  • Recommendation Twenty-One: Judicial Pre-Trial Assignments
• E. Case Flow Management
  • Recommendation Twenty-Two: Maximizing First Appearances
  • Recommendation Twenty-Three: Full Disclosure to the Accused
  • Recommendation Twenty-Four: Maximizing Second and Third Appearances
• F. Diversion and Restorative Justice
  • Recommendation Twenty-Five: Increasing the Range of Available Programmes
  • Recommendation Twenty-Six: Appropriate Considerations for Complementary or Alternative Forms of Justice
  • Recommendation Twenty-Seven: Equal Justice Initiatives
  • Recommendation Twenty-Eight: Increased Information for Justice Sector Participants
• G. Conclusion and Next Step
• Appendix A – Literature Reviewed
• Appendix B – Consultations