Dear Editor,
The commissioner of police recently proposed that consideration be given to amending the Bail Act to provide bail for people who are arrested even before being charged. It is my understanding that the 'mischief' to be corrected by such an amendment is that it would prevent an accused man languishing either in jail or awaiting trial, and disposal of the matter on which he was brought before the court. We need to find out what causes this mischief and address it.
For a person to be arrested there has to be reasonable suspicion, and for the charge to be laid there has to be evidence to support the same. The delay in bringing to trial and final disposal appears to, in the majority of cases, rest with our police, who must investigate and collect the evidence to support the charge. If there are difficulties in the process of discharging that responsibility by the police, because of staffing, training and/or equipment, this need to be addressed. How does granting bail before charging an individual fix the problem?
We should be careful not to indulge the inefficiencies that exist in maintaining law and order. It is a grand illusion to think that with providing anti-gang, DNA legislation, and now amendments to the bail provisions to a failing system, that this will somehow bring about efficiency.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
Deal with the real issue, Commish
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The commissioner of police recently proposed that consideration be given to amending the Bail Act to provide bail for people who are arrested even before being charged. It is my understanding that the 'mischief' to be corrected by such an amendment is that it would prevent an accused man languishing either in jail or awaiting trial, and disposal of the matter on which he was brought before the court. We need to find out what causes this mischief and address it.
For a person to be arrested there has to be reasonable suspicion, and for the charge to be laid there has to be evidence to support the same. The delay in bringing to trial and final disposal appears to, in the majority of cases, rest with our police, who must investigate and collect the evidence to support the charge. If there are difficulties in the process of discharging that responsibility by the police, because of staffing, training and/or equipment, this need to be addressed. How does granting bail before charging an individual fix the problem?
We should be careful not to indulge the inefficiencies that exist in maintaining law and order. It is a grand illusion to think that with providing anti-gang, DNA legislation, and now amendments to the bail provisions to a failing system, that this will somehow bring about efficiency.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
Deal with the real issue, Commish
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