Functioning of the Haitian judicial system during the 2014-2015 judicial year: report summary
- The RNDDH reports a shortage of staff, judges, equipment and transport in the peace courts and courts of first instance.
- Criminal assizes were held in 17 first instance jurisdictions, but not in Les Coteaux, which has no investigating judge.
- The coup de poing operation reached only men held in the Port-au-Prince prison and four women held in the Pétion-Ville prison.
- Assizes were marked by late starts, absent civil parties and witnesses, and defense by trainee lawyers.
- Victims of sexual violence were subjected to biased questioning, and some cases with poorly conducted investigations were brought before assize courts.
- The RNDDH recommends making the coup de poing operation a regular program and supplying courts with adequate equipment.
The RNDDH and its regional structures monitored the Haitian judicial system throughout the 2014-2015 judicial year, collecting data on courts, prosecutors' offices and criminal hearings held with and without a jury. The summary reviews the main events of the year, including the appointment of a new Minister of Justice, a change at the head of the CSPJ, several dismissals of judicial officials and the presidential pardon of 329 prisoners. It describes the March 2015 operation called coup de poing, which targeted prolonged pretrial detention but reached only prisoners in Port-au-Prince.
The RNDDH reports shortages of staff, judges, equipment and transport in the peace courts and courts of first instance. Observation of criminal assizes in 17 jurisdictions found many irregularities, such as late starts, absent civil parties and witnesses, and defense by trainee lawyers. The summary closes with recommendations, including making the operation a regular program and giving courts adequate equipment.
How to cite
National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), Functioning of the Haitian judicial system during the 2014-2015 judicial year: report summary, https://web.rnddh.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/7-RESUME-Rap-justice-2015-9-oct-15.pdf
- Rights holder
- Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)