DPP claims office ‘most undervalued’ in gov’t
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Tiffany Scatliffe-Esprit said her office is the most misunderstood and undervalued in the government. She added that the office was also underappreciated and oversubscribed.
Scatliffe-Esprit told lawmakers during the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) budget deliberations that this was reflected in the continued fight for adequate funding and human resources for her office.
Part of the strategy to change public perception includes a media campaign that was started several years ago but was halted due to various reasons.
The DPP said one of the strategic plan goals of the office is to start educating the public, beginning in schools on how the criminal justice system works. The office of the DPP is working with the Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor‟s Office to get a designated person to assist the DPP’s office in implementing an education strategy and to ensure that accurate information is dispatched to the public.
The Office of the DPP currently has 10 vacancies out of a staff complement of 28 and Scatliffe-Esprit said despite these shortcomings, her office continuously worked to meet its constitutional mandate.
The SFC heard that there were over 500 active cases before the Magistrates Court as of November 22, 2023, and was informed that the court received 425 complaints, with 180 matters pending. Over at the High Court, Scatliffe-Esprit said there were 45 ongoing indictable matters and 23 indictments filed as of November 17, 2023. She also said her office expected four more by the end of 23, bringing the total to 27.
Over 60 cases from COI Unit
Lawmakers were further informed that the DPP’s office reviewed 267 case files from the police and other law enforcement agencies since September 30, 2023. The Commission of Inquiry (COI) Unit alone submitted around 68 major matters, supplemented by six cases from agencies such as Customs, Immigration, and the Financial Investigations Agency.
As of November 15, 2023, 20 matters were heard at the High Court, with seven leading to convictions, five to acquittals, and eight being discontinued by the DPP’s office due to various reasons. These included victims no longer pursuing the case or leaving the jurisdiction.
In the Magistrates Court, a total of 665 matters were resolved as of November 14, 2023, with outcomes ranging from dismissals, and fines, to convictions, including 65 juvenile cases.
The DPP’s office has requested additional funding of approximately $457,609 for what are known as CURT processes, including hiring two summer interns and providing opportunities to Virgin Islanders interested in law.
Scatliffe-Esprit also expressed the department’s desire to participate in training related to cybercrime, money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing, and to enhance administrative training for improved overall performance.
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More nonsense from the DPP.
The time for a new DPP is now.
The DPP’s office is certainly the most under performing department of Government. How is this woman still in office after her record failure?
There are no participation trophies Ms Prosecutor. We are only interested in ACHIEVEMENTS.
The perfomance is so poor that it barely amounts to participation!
Don’t forget most incompetent. Thanks much.
284 media asked a very good question of the governor and he turned red in the face. Lawyers from the UK are here to prosecute COI ridiculous cases but murderers are getting acquitted from cases done by the DPP. Explain this.
They need a man as DPP, they need to bring back Valston to run it
The educational need is for the DPP. She cannot prosecute a paper bag.
BVI News please do some research and provide some data on her scorecard so far. I cannot remember the last time I was the DPP successfully prosecute a serious crime.
Some will say it is incompetency, others say it is c*rruption, others say it is both.
Yes there are many vacancies but this is largely due to the mismanagement of the office and the tyrannical leadership style. Unless and until the DPP recognises her own shortcomings and strives to improve HER technical and people management skills then there will be no change in the long string of LOSSES. This is a prime example of why you should hire the BEST candidate as opposed to giving a long service award.
Perhaps that is the case because the DPP office is failing to win cases as one would expect. This is particularly true when it comes to major criminal cases.
How many people has walked away scot free after prosecution by the DPP office? Too many.
This is not a matter of the gender of the person running the office. It’s a matter of perhaps two things based on my observation from previous cases before the court.
1. The collection of evidence that is being presented to the DPP office by the RVIPF, and
2. The manner in which that evidence or lack thereof is presented in court
The bottom line for me is this. The task of the DPP office is to ensure people receive justice when they are aggrieved.
Unfortunately the DPP office has fallen short on too many occasions, and there needs to be a changing of the guard at the top and perhaps more in that office in my view with the aim of getting better performance.
I personally like to see locals in top positions, but if a person is falling short of expectations and performing poorly, regardless of where they are from, they need to be replaced.
If the head of the DPP was in private sector, they would have been out of job a long time ago. You cannot have a situation whereby people who are accused of serious crimes including murder walking free like they have in recent times.
The governor should appoint a special prosecutor to pursue the charges pending against past and current members of the govt , civil service and HOA.
Justice is not served for the accused nor the community by endless delay.
Everytime the DPP and the primier opens
Both of ayo months his pure madness, miss DPP sometimes I does wonder where in the world you when and study because trust me that collage you when to it’s not a good school you just waisted all that money on your education are you willful loseing all these cases ,it timmme for the DPP to go not because she born here ayo just go sit down and let she do what she want how is this so
You Ms. DPP are USELESS and getting paid top dollars and not producing. Name one case you have won in the last 2 years? or name one you’ve won in 2023? We the public are very interested in knowing.
The COP needs to go. The DPP needs to stay. Its so much easier to get things done with her in charge!
As a concerned observer, I can’t help but express my deep reservations about the current state of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ office … It’s disconcerting to witness the operational challenges that have surfaced, challenges that I believe reflect on management and the overall efficacy of this crucial institution.
One can’t overlook the glaring issue of understaffing; with 10 out of 28 positions unfilled, I am compelled to question the recruitment and management strategies in place. This isn’t just a numbers game; it’s a matter of practical impact. An overburdened staff is likely to be a demoralized one, and the knock-on effect on the office’s ability to prosecute cases effectively is a real and pressing concern.
Turning to the rate of convictions, the figures are disheartening. With only seven convictions out of 20 matters heard at the High Court, it forces me to ponder the office’s approach to case selection and preparation. Are we seeing a lack of prioritization? Is there a shortfall in the quality of argumentation in the courtroom? These are questions that demand answers.
Then there’s the issue of interagency cooperation—or the apparent lack thereof. When the DPP herself criticizes the quality of case files coming from the police, it’s clear that something is amiss. This isn’t just a minor hiccup; it’s indicative of a potentially systemic failure in collaboration that could be undermining our prosecutions at their very foundation due to inadequate evidence or case preparation.
Public engagement and understanding are also areas where I find the office is lacking. There seems to be a disconnect between the DPP’s office and the public it serves, and the fact that a planned media campaign to address this was halted only compounds my concerns. It suggests a failure to appreciate the importance of communication and public relations—an oversight that can’t be excused.
Financially, while it is commendable that the DPP has requested additional funding, I am left to wonder about the existing budget’s efficient utilization. Without transparency and evidence of innovative resource management, skepticism is inevitable. How are we ensuring that public funds are being used effectively to meet the office’s needs?
All these factors combined make me question the leadership at the top. There comes a point when one must consider whether the person in charge is suited to address these issues decisively. Given the suboptimal case outcomes, management deficiencies, and struggles with public relations …, I find myself questioning whether she is the right person for the job. Some might even argue that it’s time for a change at the helm to restore confidence in the DPP’s office.
Appreciate your comment. I think we are on the same page here.
Your view was well thought out and on point. Giving the performance history of the of the DPP office, and the staffing and financial issues, clearly something has to be changed in that office.
What is going on there is simply not acceptable.
There is also the matter of evidence collection and presentation on the RVIPF. To the extend good evidence in cases is an issue, that also needs to be addressed.
The status quo cannot continue. Time for a change imo.
Results, results, results. That’s what we care about..That’s how we judge you..Nothing more matters than resultz. Get us results, then you can talk, as for now,.Naah. you are not relevant..
Get raid of them deity cops how telling the Dpp what to do
Under fund , employ under achievers, allowing and their Friends & Family manipulation of the court system and judiciary . Creative loop holes are produced known offenders regularly walk in and out from the so called trials laughing already knowing the verdict on the rare occasions they even get to trial .
When you are DPP you have a distinct job function than politicians and thus you are on your own. Ppl should expect you to get the job done. Time for you to put on your big gal panties
I want a some of the Dpp a** she looking dam good now