New Brunswick faces a severe shortage of Crown prosecutors. This crisis directly impacts the public and the professionals working within the justice system. Yves Duguay serves as the president of the New Brunswick Crown Prosecutors Association. He warns that the ongoing loss of experienced lawyers puts immense pressure on the remaining staff.

A Mass Exodus of Experience

The province lost 43 prosecutors over the past three years. Thirty one of those individuals were seasoned professionals. This mass departure leaves a massive gap in the courtroom.

“With each loss, it puts pressure on the people that remain, and they are faced with a dual responsibility of carrying the workload, managing those difficult files and complex files, but also they do have a mentorship obligation towards the newer crowns,” Duguay told CBC News.

Rising Crime Rates in Saint John

This staffing crisis collides with rising crime rates across the province. Statistics Canada data shows the national crime severity index fell recently. However, New Brunswick saw its index increase to 90.4. The national average sits at 75.

If you live in Saint John, you feel this impact locally. The crime severity index in Saint John rose 20 percent. Moncton grew 11 percent and Fredericton went up seven percent. Duguay notes this increase aligns with the growing complexity of the cases prosecutors handle daily.

“That is why it is so important for us to try to get to a solution because these serious files need serious experience,” he said.

Mental Health and System Delays

The shortage forces prosecutors to triage cases. This practice harms the overall health of the criminal justice system. The public ultimately pays the price through stays of proceedings and chronic delays.

The internal toll on prosecutors is equally alarming. A recent survey of association members revealed that 45 percent of respondents want to leave the service.

“It sends chills down my spine,” Duguay said. He highlighted the mental health risks associated with the job. “We are exposed to very unnatural stories, right? And with those unnatural stories comes exposure to a higher risk of mental health injuries, and that is a real thing, and that is also part of the equation and part of the solution.”

Demanding Provincial Action

The association wants the provincial government to come to the table. They have collected data and developed proposed solutions to fix the shortage. The Department of Justice has not yet responded to requests for comment.

“More needs to be done,” Duguay said. “We are the subject matter experts in the field. We have a lot of data that we have collected, and as a result, we do have some solutions to propose to this government. So there is hope, you know, in our minds.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a shortage of Crown prosecutors in New Brunswick?

The province lost 43 prosecutors over the past three years due to heavy workloads, complex cases and mental health strain. Thirty one of those departing lawyers were highly experienced.

How does the prosecutor shortage affect Saint John?

Saint John recently saw a 20 percent increase in its crime severity index. Fewer experienced prosecutors are available to handle these increasingly complex and serious local cases.

What happens when there are not enough prosecutors?

A lack of prosecutors leads to case triaging and stays of proceedings. This means some criminal cases get dropped or delayed before a judge even hears them.

What is the proposed solution to this crisis?

The New Brunswick Crown Prosecutors Association wants to meet with the provincial government. They plan to present data driven solutions to improve working conditions and retain experienced legal staff.