In efforts to raise the quality of prosecution in Dominican courts, police prosecutors will be moved into the physical office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Attorney General Francine Baron-Royer made the disclosuer during a ceremony to mark the opening of the new law year at the High Court Monday morning.
Noting that many prosecutors here are untrained, Baron-Royer said that this measure will allow prosecutors to benefit from the guidance of the DPP.
“In Dominica, a great deal of matters are prosecuted at the magistrate’s court level by police prosecutors who have no formal legal training. This can be perceived as placing them at a disadvantage when often times they come up against trained lawyers…” Baron-Royer stated.
“…. However, one must always look towards improving one’s ability to carry out one’s task to the highest standard and as such we are currently looking at the logistics of bringing all police prosecutors within the same physical space as the Director of Public Prosecutions so that they can benefit more effectively from his direct input and guidance. This is the purview to raising even higher the quality of prosecution in our courts,” she stated.
In recent times, persons have made calls for police prosecutors to receive more formal training in order to better prosecute criminals.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Dominica Police Force, Inspector Claude Weekes had said in a public forum, that a lack of qualified police prosecutors within the court system was posing a hindrance to the efficiency of the local justice system.
“Lawyers are trained three, four, five, six years and a policeman goes to Morne Bruce, he eventually becomes a corporal or sergeant, and then you give him six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twenty case files to go before Mr. Behanzin and to stand up against those … who have PHD in the field. You expect him to prosecute properly? He will not be able to prosecute properly…” the inspector stated.
Magistrate Tiyani Behanzin had also made a similar call.
i think its a very good idea to boost the level of training for police officers to be more successful in the court room…but we dont have to have six years of training to to prosecute minor offences…indictable matters are prosecuted by dpp…but as long as officers are trained and they have the knowledge within the confines of the law yes they should not have no problem prosecuting against trained lawyers wen dealing with summary offences…indictable offences thats different…thats why it has training courses overseas for police officers all training goes on so mr weekes dont mislead the public and give the impression that police only train for six to seven weeks at morne bruce and dats it…police continue training even after the have completed their six week of basic training their is also advance training…it is too numerous to mention so our police force do have well trained officers but is all u to use the training wen it is given to u all…
I’m always puzzled as to why there is a Police officer as Prosecutor. The move to bring the Police Prosecutor into the same office of the DDP does not necessarily help to raise the the quality of prosecution in Dominican courts. The Job of a Prosecutor which of course, should be a trained lawyer which requires great skills and dedication, who is driven to preserving Law and Oder that’s why it is sometimes specialized, it a skill that is acquired over time with practice and that is what’s lacking. The office should comprise of the AG, the DDP and a team of Lawyers working in conjunction with the police Dept, some may ague about the cost of having such office, but if we are serious about crime fighting and raising the quality of prosecution in Dominican courts that should out way the cost.
When Police officers are recruited, they should be given a crash course into collecting and presenting evidence to the court for prosecution, that is where Mr weeks role should be working within the police force to assist his fellow officers with the proper way of collecting and presenting evidence to the courts with the support of the AG, the DDP and his team. What the AG is doing might be a small step but much more has to be done if we are serious about prosecuting and crime fighting.
Further more it is the Police Job to conduct proper investigation crossing all t’s and dotting all i’s and presenting the evidence in Court. That is the Key to their success. The legal aspect should be ironed out by the DPP and AG who are trained lawyers. they should review the evidence before it is presented in court.
If Policemen are to get training as lawyers or become lawyers then they might as well do it full time since it pays more money. There are so many young lawyers in Dominica, why dont a few of them just join the Police force and work as prosecutors.
Small crimes do not need lawyers like someone pointed out. I think the responsibilities in our legal system is not clearly define
Small step to advancement.
The DPP, the AG, and the Police procecutors should all be in the same office. I am not sure of the AG responsibility but i would consider her the Top prosecutor who should consult with both the DPP and police.
Hence a failure of the Police to do an outstanding Job is a reflection of the disconnect between the DPP, the AG, and the Police prosecuter.
Anyway it is a step in the right direction
WHO IS THERE FOR THE LITTLE MAN, THE POOR MALAWAY IN DOMINICA WHO CAN’T AFFORD A LAWYER. THEY SAY THE POLICE COME UP AGAINST TRAINED LAWYERS, BUT MANY TIMES THEY COME UP AGAINST POOR PEOPLE CHILDREN WITH NO TRAINING AT ALL.
WHY WE CAN’T HAVE PUBLIC DEFENDANTS. TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO TO POOR AND CAN’T AFFORD A LAWYER. PEOPLE GO TO JAIL FOR SO MUCH PETTY THINGS IN DOMINICA ALL CAUSE THEY HAVE NO PROPER DEFENSE. IF THE POLICE GETTING TRAINING,THEN THE GOV’T SHOULD ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS.
IT’S ONLY FARE, CAUSE WITH MORE TRAINING FOR PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, COMES MORE OF OUR BROTHERS,SISTERS, FATHERS ,MOTHERS AND CHILDREN GOING TO JAIL, CAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND CAN’T AFFORD THE POWER OF ATTORNEY.
I think this is a move in a better direction, but why does the prosecutors have to be police?
Wouldn’t the police time be better spent investigating crimes and bringing it before the courts, while you have professional twenty-four seven prosecutors, prosecuting the crimes in the court?
Outside the box man, outside the box….
Reasoning…..The point is, instead of taking half measures, we are saying get them fully trained so that they can be at their most effective. How is that negative? We too like to settle for second best in DA.
Negative, negative, negative. Always , we are negative. The police prosecutors are untrained. They are now being moved to a location in which they can get better on-the-job training. That is a good thing!!! Open your eyes, people. If you think negative, you will stay negative. This is a positive step. See it for what it is.
@commentator:
“However, one must always look towards improving one’s ability to carry out one’s task to the highest standard…..”
How is getting the police located at the office of the DPP going to accomplish that? Is that the AG’s idea of the highest standard?
It is little wonder they lose so many cases when they come up against seasoned lawyers. This must be a joke.
What about the police officer who is there as a prosecutor who did his bachelors in law and has been begging for years to get a chance to go do that six month internship? You all deny his application every frigging year. What hypocrisy!! He is not giving up!! One day on day Kangalay!!!
“For the love of COUNTRY”
Whether police prosecutors will be moved into the physical office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) or not, ‘White Collar’ crimes will still not be dealt with because is people in ‘High Places who commit those crimes most times. The system is geared to protect those committing those crimes. How many cases of money laundering, big drug dealers or serious corruption cases, of all kinds are prosecuted?
Attorney General Francine Baron-Royer admits that many prosecutors here are untrained so is that why they are scared to the bone to deal with the ‘BIG MEN’ who commit ‘BIG crimes’? In Dominica it is alarming that many of our poor youths and ordinary people are jailed for petty offences, but when it comes to the BIG WIGS in Society involved in ‘WHITE COLLAR criminal activity nothing happens. The AG knows that. All Dominicans know that. That action by the AG is not what will bring more justice in Dominica. The political will is missing. The System is designed to protect the ELITE CLASS and they evade justice through influence, through their friends in high places. They who have money, wealth, riches cannot be touched, not even the AG move prosecutors to the DPP’s office. NO CONSTITUTION, NO LAW, NO LAWYER, NO POLICE COULD PREVENT ME FROM DOING WHAT I HAVE TO DO. WHO SAID THOSE WORDS? THE SAME AG HAS NOT DENOUNCED THAT STATEMENT. HER SILENCE ON THAT MEANS CONSENT.
Good start at least. Cow-.. is known for telling it like it is and therefore the AG deserves to be commended on this front as little as it is. However, I sincerely hope that those officers identified as being competent and possessing the experience and knowledge will be provided with training in the prosecution process at an advanced level. There is no need for then to be qualified attorneys at the lower (Summary offenses) court level because these cases are usually less serious in nature and the magistrate is boss of his court. Therefore, the magistrate is who ensures procedures are followed and respected.
As long as we keep using people with legal degrees as magistrates, I see no reason why we cant use police officers as prosecutors. I have seen good police prosecutors like Insp. Joseph Challenger, Insp. Severin (Old Sev),Former Commissioner Simon Darroux and current Insp. Claude Weeks put attorneys to shame. This proves that with the necessary training our officers can do the job. So madam AG, even if I don’t like most of what you represent I applaud you in this instance.
@commentator: LMAO so loud @ get the policemen to law school if he wants them to stand against mr behanzin… omg.
WAS THINKING THE SAME but they can benefit from the DPP. Another adavantage of that would be the files of evidence would not be easily tampered with once these files can be fully monitored by the DPP.
But like you said its not the responsiblity of the DPP to trian them to become *lawyers*..lol.
The High Court needs to be moved thats prime property on the water front.
We need a more modern court house.
Well let me be the first hopefully to comment on this farcical approach.
Dominicans in high office must learn to think with their brains that God give them instead of their mouth.
I cannot believe that the AG is capapble of such diabolical thinking!!!
How on earth are the police prosecuting skills going to improve by sitting in the same office as the DPP?
Surely the best means available should be reserved for those who profess to have the skills to present a prosecuting case in any court!
There should be a complete restructure of the prosecution system in Dominica and that DPP office shouyld be full of the best equiped, skilled and trained lawyers to protect the rights and the responsibilities of the state!!!
Mr Weekes should be sending his police officers to law school if he wants them to be able to stand up to the defence lawyers in front of whichever magistrate that they have to present cases to.
Why is he picking out Tiyanin?
and please madame AG, stop thinking like gens bitasion and get your office in proper order. Have a look at what is happening in the modern world of law enforcement and get your act together and MODERNISE it.
Stop peeling your sugar cane with your teeth. Get a knife!