By Delicia Janneire
February 19, 2025
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – In an effort to reduce the burden on the judiciary, the government is increasing the use of plea bargaining as a tool for case resolution.
A training seminar was recently hosted for attorneys and police prosecutors to familiarize them with the provisions of the newly enacted Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion, Plea Agreement, and Assistance Agreement) Act of 2024 and the Criminal Law Procedure (Paper Committals) Act.
The workshop exposed participants to case studies and discussions on crafting and presenting plea bargains.
Despite existing plea bargaining legislation since 2008, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall highlighted that it has only been used in ten cases.
The aim is to encourage greater utilization of this mechanism to alleviate pressure on the courts.
The attorney general also outlined key legislative changes, including mandatory court advisement on plea agreements and the complete abolition of preliminary inquiries in favor of paper committals.
These measures are expected to accelerate case disposition, optimize judicial resources, and reduce costs associated with lengthy trials.
When fully implemented, the reforms will enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system while ensuring that critical judicial resources are allocated to cases requiring full trials.