Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel believes giving the Alberta Sheriffs an expanded role could play a major role in improving the criminal justice system.
Mandel released his crime platform during a stop in Grande Prairie on Wednesday and says after consulting with front line workers, that, amongst other changes in priority must be done as soon as possible.
“We think the more jobs the sheriffs can do, and the more funding for sheriffs will then free the RCMP to do the work that they do. But, the police act makes a lot of determination into what can and cannot happen.”
Mandel says it’s not just front line staff which needs attention, as the backroom technologists must also see an uptick in numbers to keep up with the strains currently facing the justice system.
“We really see the investment in backroom technology, investing in more crown prosecutors, more legal aid is all essential in making sure the system runs better.”
Mandel adds he would also like to allocate $10 million to lift the prosecutor wage freeze for prosecutors outside of Edmonton and Calgary and hire 25 additional crown prosecutors across the province.
Mandel was joined at the platform launch on Wednesday by Grande Prairie candidate Grant Berg, and Grande Prairie-Wapiti candidate Jason Jones.