Crown attorneys warn of heavy caseloads and vacancies putting the public at risk

Manitoba’s Crown attorneys are sounding the alarm over rising crime, caseloads and vacancies which they say are putting the public at risk.

Manitoba’s Crown attorneys are sounding the alarm over rising crime, caseloads and vacancies which they say are putting the public at risk.

According to a press release Friday, The Manitoba Association of Crown Attorneys (MACA) filed a grievance in 2023 citing “dangerously heavy” caseloads amidst rising crime rates and vacancies in the province.

Though the grievance will not be heard until October this year, the association said the government must act now.

“If the government is committed to the administration of justice in this province, we can’t leave this for an arbitrator to figure out. This government has said over and over again they want to be a listening government: it’s time to listen to those on the frontlines of your criminal justice system.” the organization said.

MACA said the impending roll out of body worn camera footage from RCMP will add the time it takes to review “ an unprecedented volume of disclosure to review.”

Disclosure refers to the stages in a court case where prosecutors and defense lawyers review each other’s evidence.

“Cases are getting more complex every day,” said Christian Vanderhooft, president of the association and a Manitoba prosecutor. “We've got much more disclosure to deal with. We have body worn camera evidence coming into the province, and that's going to affect prosecutions from all of our regional offices right into Winnipeg, and it's going to take significant resources.”