Alberta police watchdog spurs calls for better justice funding

Global quoted Benjamin Perrin, a UBC law professor, in a story about the future collaboration between Alberta’s police watchdog and the Crown’s office.

After a communication issue contributed to a violent criminal case being thrown out over unreasonable delays, the two parties said they are working together to “help avoid unnecessary delays in the future.”

“[The report card found] Alberta has problems with criminal justice efficiency,” Perrin wrote in an email to Global. “The percentage of charges stayed or withdrawn in Alberta (for various reasons) was high at 35.3 percent on average and the average criminal case length was also greater than many other provinces at 183 days.”