NCJ Number
174975
Journal
Caribbean Journal of Criminology and Social Psychology Volume: 3 Issue: 1/2 Dated: January/July 1998 Pages: 30-59
Date Published
1998
Length
30 pages
Annotation
The first part of this paper assesses the drug trafficking situation in Trinidad and Tobago by examining official crime statistics and poll results from trend studies on crime, justice, and politics, while the second part discusses implications of the drug trafficking situation for the jury trial process.
Abstract
Trinidad and Tobago's proximity to South America makes it increasingly vulnerable to drug trafficking, and the country is becoming a primary drug transshipment location. Cocaine enters Trinidad and Tobago primarily via small shipping boats from Venezuela, and heroin transshipment is also an emerging problem. The Draft National Drug Strategy Master Plan for Trinidad and Tobago, covering the 1998-2002 period, recommends strengthening the criminal justice system, preventing the laundering of drug proceeds, confiscating criminally derived assets, eliminating illegal trafficking in arms and ammunition, eliminating corruption, investigating and prosecuting drug traffickers, and dismantling drug trafficking networks. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has two official categories for drug crimes, minor and serious. On average between 1990 and 1997, minor and serious drug crimes reported to the police per 1,000 population were 1.46 and 0.93, respectively. The prosecution rate for drug crimes was almost 100 percent for the same period. With respect to jury trials of drug cases, perceptions of drug trafficking, pretrial publicity, and media coverage may affect juror decision-making processes. In addition, racial attitudes may play an integral role in the organization of information by jurors. The author discusses witness credibility, the case for special jurors, and the use of advisory juries in drug cases. Recommendations are offered to deal with some of the problems in Trinidad and Tobago's jury system. 48 references, 3 endnotes, and 4 figures