Management Group

Andrejs Berzins, Q.C.

Project Advisor

Mr. Berzins is recognized as an expert in the Canadian criminal justice system with extensive practical experience in managing one of the largest prosecutor’s offices in Canada. As Chief Crown Attorney of Ottawa for 16 years Mr. Berzins had overall responsibility for the prosecution of a large volume of criminal cases (approximately 25,000-30,000 charges each year) in all courts within his jurisdiction. He managed a staff of 30 Assistant Crown Attorneys and numerous other personnel in his office. One of the major priorities in his work was court back-log reduction and he implemented and piloted a number of effective case management strategies that were subsequently adopted elsewhere in the Province of Ontario. Mr. Berzins worked closely with other participants in the justice system, including the judiciary, defence bar, and the police, through Court Management Committees, to improve the service provided by the courts to the public. He was active in establishing and supporting services for victims and witnesses.He has been an innovator in the development of services for victims of crime and in the application of restorative justice principles.

Mr. Berzins has 10 years of international project management experience on legal reform projects, primarily in Eastern Europe. He has been integral in the design and implementation of several of these projects. He has been responsible for the design, delivery and management of numerous pilot projects, specifically dealing with juvenile justice, diversion and restorative justice both in Canada and internationally.

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