Bahamas: ...a lack of swift justice is a hard pill to swallow

The need for swift justice
thenassauguardian editorial



Is there such a thing as swift justice?

The idea behind swift justice is to capture, prosecute and take immediate action on those found guilty of serious crimes. Once that is done, the trend of thought suggests it would make would-be criminals think twice about their actions.

Swift justice will also go a long way in helping members of the public feel a little safer. Police officers have often complained about having done their part in capturing criminals, but they feel that the system betrays them by giving bail to individuals accused of serious crimes like murder.

They’ve complained that even individuals charged with crimes such as housebreaking or assault are given bail too easily and too quickly.

For police officers who are committed to cleaning up the streets, a lack of swift justice is a hard pill to swallow.

No doubt swift justice would help to clean out the backlog of cases that are currently before the courts. Some believe that once the courts can quickly deal with small matters before them, by handing out swift justice, it would give them more time and effort to concentrate on solving serious matters before the courts.

Why should a petty theft be a matter before the courts for months or even years? If all of the evidence and facts are there to convict, then why hold up the court by putting off the case?

That is where swift justice must prevail.

Of course, in all of this the key element would be having all of the evidence and facts to prosecute a case and get a conviction. While justice must be swift, it must also be just.

There must be no room for doubt or guessing, especially when it comes to serious matters like murder, attempted murder, kidnapping or assault. The evidence must be crystal clear.

Perhaps it is this inability of the system to present credible evidence and facts that forces cases to be pushed back or be held before the courts for an extended period of time.

More work must be done by prosecutors in presenting evidence that would expedite swift justice.

A delay in justice forces the hand of the people to seek their own justice, which leads to more problems.

Because of delayed justice many Bahamians have chosen to attempt to take the law into their own hands, seeking their own justice.

Swift Justice must work in the best interest of all. Victims must feel that the system and the law is there to protect them, not frustrate them.

11/15/2010

thenassauguardian editorial

Bahamas Blog International