Ramon Espadaler faces one of the decisive moments of his mandate, in the midst of the implementation of the Efficiency law. Major changes in justice, he says, require time, resources, dialogue, and full institutional respect.
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We start with things that improve people’s lives.
The plan against multiple recidivism is working. The new courts in Barcelona have managed to reduce the wait time from eight months to one month for immediate trials for minor offenses and cut the date for fast trials by a year. We will continue reducing times and gaining efficiency.
Courts are still lacking.
Yes, that is why the 91 new judicial units that will be launched from December 31 are so important, for all jurisdictions, at all levels, and throughout the territory. It will not be a reinforcement only in criminal matters; it will also be noticeable in civil, commercial, and provincial courts. Probably the Barcelona Court suffers the most resource deficit. The positions will have resources and staff dependent on the Department of Justice. At the pace of recent years, it would have taken us 14 years to achieve these 91 new positions.
The deficit in the administration of justice was and is large.
Yes, but we have made progress in important reforms, in providing human and material resources, and in laying the foundations for a transformation that, allow me to say, is delivering and will continue to deliver good results.
More resources
“At the previous pace, it would have taken us 14 years to get the 91 new judicial positions”
How was it done?
Through dialogue with all administrations and the different governing bodies of the judges. Otherwise, it would have been impossible. And I do not forget the social part, the unions. This second part of the legislature, with the budgets approved, allows us to work with planning.
You have unblocked the reform of major infrastructures, but the photo of the shameful courts of Martorell went around the world.
You are absolutely right, but if you go near the Ferrocarrils station you will see that the construction of the new headquarters of the Martorell Court of First Instance is progressing. A historic deficit.
Crime figures are improving. How much responsibility does better justice have in the drop in crimes?
This is a coordinated effort by everyone. Remember that once a month, the president of the Generalitat gathers the Justice and Interior teams, which allows us to have all the updated information from both sides. I believe we are on the right track, aware that we still have much to do. But this is a deeply reformist legislature, and it is beginning to show results. We must be honest, we need time. We are facing a justice reform that should have been done decades ago. The collapse was unsustainable. The diagnosis was shared, and this was the best moment to make the changes.
The transformation
“This is a deeply reformist legislature that is already showing the first results”
To what extent does the citizen perceive these improvements?
I am aware that in security, data and perceptions are equally relevant. And they do not always go hand in hand. What do the data tell us? That crime figures are decreasing. Some worry us a lot, such as violence against women. Notice that the new judicial units already operating are precisely those for violence against women. There is still a lot of work to do. Justice is the penultimate link in a chain. The last would be the penitentiary field. But more must be done in prevention because we are not progressing. We are going backwards.
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Speaking of prisons, there is a risk of collapse.
No. We have had three years in which the prison population has grown slightly. We are above 90% of our capacity. We have made a contingency plan that considers the capacities we have to grow within the perimeter of some centers by building new modules. Therefore, if these increases in the prison population consolidate, we have that option.
Prisons
“There is no collapse, we are at 90% capacity and have the possibility to expand”
Security and coexistence.
We have problems with drones and mobile phones. Recently, an investigation was revealed about the arrest of an individual who allegedly trafficked firearms from his cell using a mobile phone, which was precisely detected by prison officers. I want to focus on them because having achieved that they are agents of authority, in addition to the responsibility with which they act, has allowed a considerable reduction in assaults in this first semester, serious ones by 73%, and minor ones by 35%.
Mental health.
It is one of the great challenges. Both inside and outside, because prisons reflect what happens outside with a distorting variant, which is the deprivation of liberty. In this area, we work hand in hand with Health. We have had a very tough first quarter with several suicides.
What to do?
Deepen measures for detection and prevention of suicides.
On average, 800 mobiles and 30 kilos of drugs are seized each year. Is it inevitable?
The facts show that it is difficult to control. That is why we have prioritized drones, body scanners, and nullifying phone coverage to disable mobiles. Certainly, it is a challenge, a problem, and the figures prove it. But we will keep insisting.
Security
“We have problems with drones, mobiles, and drugs, the figures prove it”
The judicial school stays.
Yes, and it is very important for us. There were too many voices proposing its return to Madrid with the end of the agreement. But it stays and does so indefinitely. We have already resolved that during the works in the Vallvidrera building, classes will be held in a space in the City of Justice, right in the heart of judicial activity.
We lack vocations for judges and prosecutors in Catalonia.
Then let’s help create them. We have 50 scholarships and will now launch another 50 for future judges, prosecutors, and administrative lawyers. We have already helped about fifty students with an impeccable academic profile. Young people from families with below-average incomes. We must ensure that these talents are not lost due to economic impossibility.
I see you go on vacation satisfied.
In this legislature, we are resolving entrenched deficits in infrastructure, personnel, resources with judges, prosecutors, and we are laying the foundations for a better future not too far away. Citizens will take time to see the results, but we are on the right track. We do not just administer; we transform.
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