Following an incident where a Crown attorney was allegedly attacked by a man in leg shackles in Peterborough, a police chief, a legal group, and an NDP MPP are urging the Doug Ford government to enhance safety in Ontario courtrooms.
The 30-year-old man faces assault charges after the occurrence during a dangerous offender hearing at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on February 17, as reported by the Peterborough Police Service.
Authorities claim the man jumped out of the prisoner’s box and assaulted the female Crown attorney around 11:20 a. m. that day. Fortunately, she did not require medical assistance.
Police stated that special constables managed to subdue him and took him into custody. He was returned to the Central East Correctional Centre in Kawartha Lakes, Ont., and on Wednesday he faced court again with an assault charge.
A new prisoner’s box equipped with a plexiglass barrier has been approved, according to Peterborough Police Chief Stuart Betts in a news release on Friday.
However, he noted that courtroom safety issues have been present for some time in this city northeast of Toronto.
“As the organization responsible for courtroom safety, the issue of the prisoner box in this courtroom has been an ongoing concern,” Betts explained.
“I have expressed my concern about the court facilities here on more than one occasion,” he continued. Although he’s pleased about the temporary plexiglass solution, Betts mentioned it’s “concerning” that such an incident could take place.
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Lesley Pasquino, president of the Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association, says: ‘When you are a Crown prosecutor, you are prosecuting people who are often charged with violent offences. We need to know that we’re safe in the courtroom, safe in the courthouse, and safe when we leave the courthouse.’ (Lisa Pace Photography)
Lesley Pasquino, president of the Ontario Crown Attorneys’ Association, shared her thoughts during an interview with CBC Radio’s Here and Now on Friday. She mentioned that their association has sent a letter to Attorney General Doug Downey requesting a provincewide security strategy.
The association seeks minimum safety standards for Crown attorneys across all 54 courthouses in Ontario. These standards would include having security personnel present at all times and implementing point-of-entry security measures.
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Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey is seen here after receiving correspondence fromthe Ontario Crown Attorneys’Association askingforprovincialsecurityimprovements.(Martin Trainor/CBC)
A spokesperson for Attorney General Doug Downey named Jack Fazzari issued a statement on Friday indicating that they’re reviewing both their letter and its contents closely.
“Upholding and improving courthouse security is a core responsibility that we take very seriously-and that’s underscored by our commitment to strengthen safety protocols for everyone entering Ontario’s courthouses,” Fazzari stated.
“This includes enhancing screening capabilities through investmentsinmoderntechnologyand equipment while supporting targeted upgrades neededto reinforcecourthousefacilities.”
Fazzari also highlighted their ongoing collaboration with “the Ministryof Solicitor General, municipalleaders, the judiciary, courtlaw enforcement, and Ontario Provincial Police(OPP)to ensureeverycourtlocationhasnecessarysecuritymeasuresinplace.”
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‘A shock’
Pasquino described how during the incident, while addressing the judge, there was no plexiglass barrier between her and the prisoner’s box which was within arm’s reach. The prisoner allegedly leaped out from behind her and pinned her against the counsel table. She noted that although frightened and sore after what happened, the Crown attorney continued her work afterward. This same individual had raised concerns about safety regarding that prisoner’s box since 2016 but had seen no action taken until now. “It was a shock; obviously it was a very harrowing experience. And it’s concerning for all of us who do this work,” Pasquino said. “When you are a Crown prosecutor, you are prosecuting people who are often charged with violent offences. We need to know that we’re safe in the courtroom, safe in the courthouse, and safe when we leave the courthouse. That didn’t happen in this case.”NDP MPP Advocates for Courtroom Funding
NDPMPPKristyn Wong-Tam, the Official Oppositioncriticforthe Attorney General, sentoutastatementon Fridaycallingthefactthatitanincidentwasneededforasimplefix“absurd.”</प “For years, we’ve calledonthe Fordgovernmenttogive Ontario’scourtroomsessentialfundingtoensureasafeenvironmentforeveryone. The Conservatives’continuerefusaltoaddressthishasledtochargesbeingdismissed, reducedsentencesforseriousoffenders, andnowthis,”Wong-Tamsaid.р “Fordand Attorney General Downeyneedtostarttakingthisseriouslybeforeanythingworsehappens.”Source link
