The Alberta Government is hiring 35 more crown prosecutors, on top of the 15 currently being recruited, to help clear up a backlog of court cases.

Kathleen Ganley, Minister Of Justice and Solicitor General, says the shortcomings in the system have built up over several years causing big delays.

"My focus has been how to address the challenges the justice system addresses as a whole," said Ganley. "I want Albertans to know their government is working to ensure the cases are heard in a reasonable amount of time."

The Justice department announced March 9, 2017 an increase of $14.5 million dollars to add 50 Crown Prosecutors and an additional 30 court staff.

"It is critical that our justice system works well for Albertans and that we take the resources we need in order to properly have it function," said Ganley.

The supreme court’s Jordan Decision, which came down in the summer of 2016, limits how long a case can take to be brought to trial.

They have to bring a case to trail within 18 months of the charges, 30 months on criminal cases in superior courts, or cases tried in provincial courts after a preliminary inquiry.

To deal with this the province put in place protocols, which will still be in place, to make sure cases weren't slipping through the cracks.

"Like any large organizations, policies will always be shifting and moving in response to circumstances," she added.

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