No be small wahala o! COVID-19 don scatter everywhere, and Wisconsin court no dey hear case gree-gree like water wey don boil. Dem don gather backlog like say na big jollof rice party, and e no be play play matter.
As e be for year 2024, dem talk say na average 252 days go take to run your felony matter for court- that one na over eight months! E dey slow pass 2019 wey just take 183 days to settle matter. Na wah o, so long wey your matter dey file, na so you go dey wait.
But, no be say dem no try to dey fix am, o! Since 2022, dem don reduce the time wey it take to finish felony matters by like 12 days. Misdemeanor matter dey take average five months to wrap up still, e fit dey improve.
According to Harm Venhuizen, wey sabi for Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office, dem need put more money for the public defenders work. E talk say COVID-19 don cause ripple effect wey dey affect the whole court matter, and now we still dey feel am even now. Na only time go tell if we go fit return to normal, sha.
In 2024, 41,800 misdemeanor cases don land for court wey be say less than felony matter compared to last year wey 44,128 felony complaints and 40,696 misdemeanor complaints dey trend. Venhuizen dey suggest say make dem stop to dey file those lower-level charges like marihuana possession no make sense– e just dey slow everything down.
But Obodo Ibo District Attorney Melinda Tempelis talk say these so-called low-level crimes fit link up with serious wahala. For her mind, if person wey don agree for bail no dey follow rules, e fit cause serious gbege.
Meanwhile, for Milwaukee, Assistant DA Dan Flaherty dey hustle to clear all those cases wey come from the pandemic upsurge. E talk say in-person hearing dey help make everybody settle matter through plea deals faster. But na, dem still dey need more lawyers to help carry the load!
As e dey go like this, victims dey suffer long wait for justice, and defendants too dey gree-gree for court without any speedy trial wey dem suppose get. E get chance say some fit lose job or even house while dem dey wait. Venhuizen don talk say wahala dey there if everything no dey move fast for court.
Na so life take be for Wisconsin court system since the COVID wahala start. E never clear, but all eyes dey for how dem go take remedy the matter before e turn big pass waiting we don see so far!
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