Interior courts see cases decline, longer processing times

The past year saw fewer criminal cases in courts within the B.C. Interior, but the time to process those cases rose.

The Provincial Court of B.C. Annual Report stated there were a total of 44,264 adult criminal cases brought to court in the Interior in 2021-22.

That figure was down from the 46,654 criminal cases the previous year.

Some of the cases from 2020-21 were carried over to the most recent year, resulting in 45,601 cases, or 103 per cent, being completed in the 2021-22 period.

The report stated 52 per cent of adult criminal cases processed in the Interior were concluded within 180 days in the most recent year, which was the same completion rate as the previous year, but down from the five-year average of 63 per cent.

It was also noted 79 per cent of cases were concluded within a full year and 91 per cent of court rulings were issued within 540 days. The Interior’s five-year average for completing a case within a year was 86 per cent, while the rate for concluding a cases within 540 days was 95 per cent.

A ceiling of 18 months, or 540 days, for criminal trials was established by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2016.

The report stated the availability of court time, the length of time for police to prepare disclosures on cases, lawyers’ availability and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have all affected court delays.

Efforts remain ongoing to minimize the delays, such as through mandatory pre-trial conferences in criminal matters, small claims and family management; and centralized virtual bail hearings.

Judicial case managers have also reportedly been rescheduling cases that were previously delayed or adjourned.