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GAME-CHANGER: St. Kitts and Nevis Passes Landmark Plea Bargaining Bill!

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – In a bold move to modernize the justice system, the National Assembly has passed the Plea Negotiations and Agreements Bill, 2024, a transformative law hailed by Attorney General Garth Wilkin as a solution to the country’s mounting case backlog.

The legislation, passed on January 30, 2025, introduces a structured plea bargaining framework aimed at expediting case resolutions, reducing court congestion, and ensuring fair justice.

“This Bill is about efficiency, fairness, and justice,” Wilkin stated, emphasizing that victims’ voices will be heard through victim impact statements, while defendants are protected from coercion with required legal representation.

Faster Case Resolutions – Inspired by regional and international best practices

Judicial Oversight – Preventing misuse of plea deals

Strengthening Crime-Fighting Efforts – Encouraging cooperation to dismantle criminal networks

Funded by the EU-backed PACE Justice Project, the law also brings prosecutor training to ensure seamless implementation.

With Trinidad, Jamaica, and global leaders like Canada and the U.S. already benefiting from similar laws, St. Kitts and Nevis is now catching up. And according to AG Wilkin, this is just the beginning!

#JusticeReform #LegalBreakthrough #PleaBargaining #FairJustice

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