Proportionality discussion paper

Justice Canada, Steering Committee on Justice Efficiencies and Access to the Justice System

This June 2012 discussion paper by a Government of Canada Justice Committee recognizes that the burgeoning growth and complexity of the criminal justice system has reached crisis proportions: lengthened criminal trials, increased costs, more court backlogs and delays, despite decreasing crime and charge rates. It identifies a pivotal problem: the same rules and remedies apply to all criminal charges. While presenting examples of streamlined options to avoid unnecessary procedures for relatively minor infractions, it stresses the importance diverting people out of the criminal process entirely in appropriate circumstances, especially people with mental health and addiction challenges.