Project Objectives

1. Reducing Criminal Case Backlog: Trinidad and Tobago's criminal justice system faces significant delays due to resource constraints and outdated processes, leading to prolonged pre-trial detentions and high incarceration rates. PACE Justice seeks to alleviate these backlogs by streamlining case management and expediting legal proceedings.
2. Enhancing Institutional Capacities: The project focuses on bolstering the capabilities of key criminal justice sector institutions, including the police, prosecutors, judiciary, and prison service. This involves providing targeted training, modernizing infrastructure, and improving coordination among these entities.
3. Implementing Technological Solutions: To modernize the justice system, PACE Justice facilitates the deployment of digital tools and systems. This includes the provision of ICT equipment to support electronic filing, case tracking, and data management, thereby enhancing efficiency and transparency.
4. Promoting Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Justice: The initiative emphasizes the importance of gender equality and social inclusion within the justice system. It supports capacity-building efforts that are sensitive to the needs of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups, ensuring that justice services are accessible and equitable.
5. Supporting Legal and Policy Reforms: PACE Justice aligns with national and regional strategies to reform legal frameworks and policies. In Trinidad and Tobago, this includes supporting the implementation of legislation such as the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act, as amended which aims to expedite the judicial process by eliminating preliminary inquiries. 

To outline the objectives of the project, along with accomplishments, progress, and opportunities for collaboration under the PACE Justice Project in alignment with Trinidad and Tobago’s national justice sector priorities.

Accomplishments and Proposed Activities

The following Table (Table 1) outlines the activities which have been completed to date, which are aligned with the national priorities of the new administration in respect of backlog reduction and speedier trials within the criminal justice system.

Table 1: List of accomplishments (2023 to April 2025) and proposed activities (May 2025 to March 2027) under PACE Justice TT. 

Key Achievements to Date

1. Improved e-governance mechanisms: The funds spent to date enabled the supply of 108 hardware items and 15 software bundles to the judiciary, significantly upgrading its technological infrastructure and readiness to receive expedited matters coming through its case management pipeline. This supports modern governance practices with technology and digitization being at the core of efficient case disposition as contemplated by AJIPA.

2. Enhanced Crime Data Management: The provided hardware and software have improved the judiciary’s capacity to collect, analyze, and report on case management and criminal backlog data, contributing directly to national and regional goals for enhanced criminal data management.

3. Strengthened Crime-Response Coordination: The provision of 52 equipment items (desktop computers and printers) to the police service and digital scanners to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has bolstered communication and coordination among law enforcement agencies, enhancing crime-response mechanisms.

4. Support for a Citizen Security Approach: While indirect, these investments in governance, data management, and response coordination collectively foster an environment conducive to advancing a citizen security approach to address crime and violence.

Current Priorities and Next Steps