If the president chooses to engage in rebuilding the justice system, progress will accelerate, especially at the institutional level, according to Attorney General Adam Bodnar who spoke today in Szczecin.
The Minister of Justice kicked off a sequence of meetings in Szczecin with prosecutors and staff from Poland’s public prosecution offices.
This marks the first gathering in a series tentatively dubbed Tour the Prosecutor’s Office. The plan is to visit every regional prosecutor’s office and, when possible, meet all prosecutors across the country. The Public Prosecution Service currently counts nearly six thousand prosecutors, several hundred public prosecutor’s office evaluators, plus numerous assistants and staff.
– Bodnar noted.
The event, held at the Polish Theater in Szczecin, drew in prosecutors, evaluators, public prosecutors’ assistants, and officials from the general organizational units subordinate to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Szczecin.
The aim was to outline the current state of the Public Prosecution Service, highlight major challenges tied to joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, address the handling of various crime categories, and discuss the administrative burden on prosecutors.
– the Minister of Justice emphasized.
He also outlined what lies ahead in the coming months and years both in relation to reforming the Public Prosecution Service and in the everyday operations of its individual units.
– he added.
“The prosecutors deserve proper attention.”
The gathering also served as a platform to exchange views, gather information on current matters, and hear about the expectations of the prosecution community and its staff regarding the future of the institution.
From this meeting, the central idea is clear: prosecutors must be acknowledged for their role as highly qualified lawyers who serve the public, while considering their core duties and how the state distributes the workload that prosecutors face.
– the head of the Ministry of Justice remarked.
Among the issues discussed were staffing shortages at multiple public prosecutor’s offices and remuneration concerns. He stressed that the gathering aimed to provide a broad range of practical tips to address these issues and ensure improvements are implemented.
During his visit to the Western Pomeranian Voivodeship, the Minister visited the District Prosecutor’s Office in Goleniów, among others. He announced that similar trips would occur every two to three weeks and that more regional offices would be visited in the near future.
Direct engagement of this kind is far more meaningful than correspondence or orders. The Public Prosecution Service faces numerous challenges as Poland works to restore the rule of law and normalize the day-to-day operations of the service. Progress is being pursued steadily.
– Szczecin’s regional prosecutor Wojciech Szcześniak commented.
Justice Fund
Reporters pressed the Minister on the Justice Fund. He explained that there are two tracks of action. First, preparation for announcing a new round of subsidies under the Justice Fund with many non-governmental organizations waiting to learn about eligibility and terms.
– he noted.
The second track concerns ongoing work led by Investigative Team No. 2 of the National Public Prosecution Service, headed by Prosecutor Marzena Kowalska. This team conducts intensive activities related to the Justice Fund and responds to emerging media inquiries linked to its findings.
– Bodnar added.
Asked about the timeline for restoring the justice system, Bodnar said it depends on the president. If the president is willing to cooperate, things will move faster, particularly on institutional matters such as laws relating to the National Council of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court, the system of ordinary courts, and the status of the public prosecutor’s office.
– Bodnar stated.
It is not only about one action. Considerable time was spent discussing supervision and psychological support for prosecutors. These are issues that will not be resolved in six months. The status of employees and assistants at the prosecutor’s office was also addressed.
– Bodnar noted, reiterating that cooperation with the president is essential for speeding up reforms.
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Source: wPolityce