00:00A troublesome situation is unfolding within the judiciary. For the past four months, 17 probation officers, more than half of
00:08the country's entire 31-member division, have been forced to stop field investigations.
00:13A critical temporary cabinet approval for their vehicle upkeep and mileage allowances expired on February 28th. This was done in
00:22the absence of a move to place the officers on the third schedule, which will see the matter resolved permanently.
00:28The transitioning of the department from national security to the Justice Ministry under the United National Congress framework resulted in
00:37paperwork to Chief Personnel Officer Dr. Daryl Dindyal being delayed, but we're told that was completed in February.
00:44The expiration of the temporary arrangement means that since March 1st, these officers have been left without a means to
00:51fund their mandatory legal duties.
00:54The officers have taken a stand that it is not that they will not, but they are unable to conduct
01:05any more inquiries because they cannot afford to put gas in their vehicle.
01:12They cannot afford the upkeep associated with it.
01:17The fallout from this funding freeze is said to be surveyed.
01:21As of this morning, one of the judges sent a subpoena to the Chief Probation Officer, who appeared in court,
01:32and it was to give an explanation as to the reason that these officers cannot complete the social inquiry.
01:43Two, to make a request that the non-affected officers complete the inquiries on behalf of the affected officers, that
01:52is not possible.
01:53Each officer is said to be managing around 15 to 20 active cases in any given cycle under an even
02:00caseload distribution system.
02:02Legal mandates require these officers to visit probationers and monitor individuals out on bail.
02:08But the work doesn't stop there.
02:11A client's matter is being held back because probation officers are unable to conduct all inquiries that is necessary for
02:20sentencing a matter.
02:22The predicament, she says, is one where the entire judicial system will be adversely impacted.
02:27We're told that the Public Services Association has already engaged the Industrial Court over the freeze.
02:33Compounding the problem is an incoming wave of legislative reforms to the Probation of Offenders Act.
02:40Officers warn that the new complex hybrid sentencing structures will require exponentially more travel.
02:48As the situation enters its fifth month, the ultimate decision to permanently place these 17 officers on the official third
02:55schedule rests solely with the Chief Personnel Officer.
02:59TV6 News contacted Justice Minister Devish Maharaj.
03:02He tells us the Permanent Secretary at his ministry is liaising with the CPO on the matter.
03:08Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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