The criminal justice system must revolve around the victims of crime, said National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli said on Wednesday.
”We want to change our criminal justice system.
”We want to ensure justice for the victims of crime by prosecuting without fear, favour or prejudice and by working with our partners and the public to solve and prevent crime,” Pikoli said.
He said the major focus in the past was on the state and law enforcement, and crime victims’ concerns became secondary; the victim was seen as just a tool in the prosecution process.
Launching the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Strategy 2020 at a conference held in Midrand, Pikoli said the focus is about to change.
The conference aims to reshape the NPA to ensure it functions better, works closer with all stakeholders and restores the public’s confidence in the criminal-justice system.
A major focus will be on the rights of victims and looking after their concerns.
The way the victims of crime are treated and the delays they suffer in the criminal-justice process are often unacceptable, said Willie Hofmeyr, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions.
He said the new strategy looks at how the processes at the NPA can be changed to focus not just on getting a conviction, but also addressing the concerns of the victim.
The NPA’s new strategy is based on 23 projects.
It includes: reducing the number of awaiting-trail detainees by developing guidelines for prosecution; prosecution-guided investigation where the NPA works with police; and community prosecutions where ”alternative and varied law enforcement mechanisms” will be developed.
Pikoli said community-based prosecutions will bring victims and perpetrators together to see if ”minor crimes” can be kept out of the court system.
”It would have people who are first-time offenders do community service instead of going to jail,” he said.
He said this did not mean the NPA would abandon its prosecution responsibility. — Sapa