A victims' advocate says new measures to address court backlogs are doable if all players in the system play their part.
The Chief District Court Judge has introduced maximum waiting times based on the seriousness of the crime.
For the least serious category —where there's no risk of prison— the aim is six months.
Independent victims' advocate Ruth Money told Mike Hosking that the courts are jammed and delayed.
She says people have their lives on hold waiting.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Because I've got this ongoing fascination with we're a bit
down in the dumps in this country at the moment
in terms of attitude, and there's a consumer confidence out.
We'll talk with Andrew about that time after six o'clock
this morning, but it does seem to me that and
there's a very interesting series of surveys out both here
and in Australia, the number of people who are looking
to leave their job for another one. So we're disgruntled,
we're unhappy, and so we want progression, we want more money,
(00:22):
and if we don't get more money here, we'll go
to Australia. But in Australia they've got the same sort
of problems. And then there's also this very interesting report
I'll have you later are the Henley Private Wealth Migration
Report Britain London. They are leaving in droves and they're
the wealthy. It's what we were talking about on the
programme yesterday with the change the real estate agents. If
you read the one roof report, the real estate agents
are saying, look, we should be bringing wealthy, successful, bright
(00:46):
people into the country and allow them to buy homes
because otherwise, where else are they going to go while
they're not in Britain anyway. Let me come back to
that later on this morning. Meantime, it's eleven away from six.
Chief District Court Judge has introduced time framed goals to
speed up cases. So will be divided into categories least
serious Category one where there's no risk of imprisonment. The
aim is to be through that court case in six months.
(01:08):
Court Cat two is under two years of jail nine months.
Cat three over two years of jail fifteen months. How
real is any of this? Ruth Money is a victim's
advocate and is with us. Ruth, very good morning to you.
Good morning As a theory. Do you like it?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yes? I love it?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Is it doable?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I think it's doable. Should the other players in the
system do their part? And there's no reason why they
want but yeah, that would need to happen the suits
of things that happen to get things to court, not
just the court itself.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Well, that's what I was going to ask, because you
know more than most. What are the infrastructural issues within
the court. We hear the buildings are rolled and they
don't work properly. The computer system is not particularly up
to scratch, you've got any number of legal aid or
lawyer's calling, appeal after appeal. I mean, do a lot
of things need to come together for this to work
or not.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I think one of the biggest things that would need
to come together is that police have to get the
disclosure of the file. So they need to do the investigation,
get all of the evidence, and then they supply that
to the defense lawyer who then advises their client whether
they're pleading to this or dealing on that, for example,
pleading guilty, not guilty, etc. And if that doesn't happen smoothly,
(02:22):
then there's obviously the crown can't do that, but or
the police can't prosecute thefor because they can't liaise with
the defense lawyer. Therefore the court kind of timings fall over.
And I see that time and time again where a
victim and I are waiting waiting and there are arguments
going on because something hasn't been disclosed.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So that is that deliberate or is that just admin.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
That is a resulting police issue and that they are
just under the pump and can't get to For example,
if you were really naughty right now and I needed
some forensics off your phone would be waiting months for that.
So there are things in the system, and I think
Chester District Court Judge speaks to another one around local
(03:08):
health assessments or probation officer assistant corrections assessments of certain
people who have done the harm and all the offenders.
There are certain addiction mental health reports because you know,
at the end of the day, the justice system is
a result of all these terrible things happening from a
(03:29):
social perspective and an education and health perspective in a community.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
So the most of what you're saying is the moment
you contract out to somebody, they won't have the resource.
That'll be your delay.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
That is my concern.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah. See, I just got fascinated the other day this
kid who's been charged with murder and Dunedin at the
Bush shelter. He's not appearing in that. Casesn't going till
twenty twenty six, twenty six, We're only midway through twenty
twenty four, and I'm thinking, what the hell's going on here?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, And that's what happens. The courts are absolutely jammed.
Things are so delayed, and quite literally, people have got
their lives on hold waiting, you know, people don't go
to school, so therefore the life trajection or the trajectory
of successful life is really compromised. It's not saying that
(04:16):
they won't be successful, but if you can't get through
your school and the university, you can't concentrate on your work,
you lose your house. There are so many horrible consequences
of these delays that I really admire and hope that
the stuff happens because it needs to. The human toll
is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Very well put. Nice to see you again, Ruth, Ruth Money,
victim's advocate and the.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on IR Radio
Because I've got this ongoing fascination with we're a bit
down in the dumps in this country at the moment
in terms of attitude, and there's a consumer confidence out.
We'll talk with Andrew about that time after six o'clock
this morning, but it does seem to me that and
there's a very interesting series of surveys out both here
and in Australia, the number of people who are looking
to leave their job for another one. So we're disgruntled,
we're unhappy, and so we want progression, we want more money,
(00:22):
and if we don't get more money here, we'll go
to Australia. But in Australia they've got the same sort
of problems. And then there's also this very interesting report
I'll have you later are the Henley Private Wealth Migration
Report Britain London. They are leaving in droves and they're
the wealthy. It's what we were talking about on the
programme yesterday with the change the real estate agents. If
you read the one roof report, the real estate agents
are saying, look, we should be bringing wealthy, successful, bright
(00:46):
people into the country and allow them to buy homes
because otherwise, where else are they going to go while
they're not in Britain anyway. Let me come back to
that later on this morning. Meantime, it's eleven away from six.
Chief District Court Judge has introduced time framed goals to
speed up cases. So will be divided into categories least
serious Category one where there's no risk of imprisonment. The
aim is to be through that court case in six months.
(01:08):
Court Cat two is under two years of jail nine months.
Cat three over two years of jail fifteen months. How
real is any of this? Ruth Money is a victim's
advocate and is with us. Ruth, very good morning to you.
Good morning As a theory. Do you like it?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yes? I love it?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Is it doable?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I think it's doable. Should the other players in the
system do their part? And there's no reason why they
want but yeah, that would need to happen the suits
of things that happen to get things to court, not
just the court itself.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Well, that's what I was going to ask, because you
know more than most. What are the infrastructural issues within
the court. We hear the buildings are rolled and they
don't work properly. The computer system is not particularly up
to scratch, you've got any number of legal aid or
lawyer's calling, appeal after appeal. I mean, do a lot
of things need to come together for this to work
or not.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I think one of the biggest things that would need
to come together is that police have to get the
disclosure of the file. So they need to do the investigation,
get all of the evidence, and then they supply that
to the defense lawyer who then advises their client whether
they're pleading to this or dealing on that, for example,
pleading guilty, not guilty, etc. And if that doesn't happen smoothly,
(02:22):
then there's obviously the crown can't do that, but or
the police can't prosecute thefor because they can't liaise with
the defense lawyer. Therefore the court kind of timings fall over.
And I see that time and time again where a
victim and I are waiting waiting and there are arguments
going on because something hasn't been disclosed.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So that is that deliberate or is that just admin.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
That is a resulting police issue and that they are
just under the pump and can't get to For example,
if you were really naughty right now and I needed
some forensics off your phone would be waiting months for that.
So there are things in the system, and I think
Chester District Court Judge speaks to another one around local
(03:08):
health assessments or probation officer assistant corrections assessments of certain
people who have done the harm and all the offenders.
There are certain addiction mental health reports because you know,
at the end of the day, the justice system is
a result of all these terrible things happening from a
(03:29):
social perspective and an education and health perspective in a community.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
So the most of what you're saying is the moment
you contract out to somebody, they won't have the resource.
That'll be your delay.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
That is my concern.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah. See, I just got fascinated the other day this
kid who's been charged with murder and Dunedin at the
Bush shelter. He's not appearing in that. Casesn't going till
twenty twenty six, twenty six, We're only midway through twenty
twenty four, and I'm thinking, what the hell's going on here?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, And that's what happens. The courts are absolutely jammed.
Things are so delayed, and quite literally, people have got
their lives on hold waiting, you know, people don't go
to school, so therefore the life trajection or the trajectory
of successful life is really compromised. It's not saying that
(04:16):
they won't be successful, but if you can't get through
your school and the university, you can't concentrate on your work,
you lose your house. There are so many horrible consequences
of these delays that I really admire and hope that
the stuff happens because it needs to. The human toll
is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Very well put. Nice to see you again, Ruth, Ruth Money,
victim's advocate and the.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on IR Radio
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