Attorney General Doug W. Currie unveiled new closed-circuit television equipment that will facilitate the testimony of children and other vulnerable witnesses in the Prince Edward Island courts.
“This program is just one of many we have introduced to make court proceedings less intimidating for children and other vulnerable victims or witnesses,” said Attorney General Currie. “Testifying at a trial can be a very frightening experience for a child. With this new equipment we can set up a video-conference within the courthouse. So a trial would be conducted in one courtroom, but a child witness could provide testimony through a video-link from another courtroom in the building.”
The closed circuit system has been installed in all four courthouses in PEI, which include Summerside, Georgetown, and both the Supreme and Provincial Courts in Charlottetown. The project required purchasing new equipment, upgrading the wiring in the courthouses, and developing an interface with existing digital recording equipment. It was jointly funded by Justice Canada and the province of Prince Edward Island.
“We would like to thank our Federal partners for their funding support on this project,” said Attorney General Currie. “It is essential for all of us involved in community safety and the justice system to work together to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable citizens.”
In addition to the implementation of new closed-circuit television equipment, the province has also introduced new testimonial screens and established a child-friendly waiting room in each of the courthouses in Prince Edward Island. Justice Canada also provided funding for the child-friendly waiting rooms.
Attorney General Currie unveiled the equipment during National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, which runs from April 18-24. “We belong to One Island Community, and the harm done to one member of that community diminishes each and every one of us,” he said. “For that reason, it is important that we recognize the hard work being done within the justice system and through community organizations to support victims of crime.”