Attorney General's Office Was Overworked - Inquiry

Local News - AM 1220

 January 08, 2009 — The Ministry of the Attorney General was overworked and understaffed when sex abuse allegations surfaced in Cornwall years ago according to a former Crown attorney. Don Johnson made the comments while testifying at the Cornwall Public Inquiry yesterday. He says he was basically a one man operation in the early 1970s and was in court five days a week. He says contact with the police was typically informal and Johnson says he envies today's crown attorneys. (Hear audio clip below) Various witnesses including O.P.P. officers also testified about a lack of resources when it came to dealing with child sex abuse allegations in the past. Hearings continue this morning at 9:30am. 

[Transcript of audio clip:  “ they do have full Crown briefs. They do have -- they obviously have more assistance than I had. They have I think at least seven or eight now in the Crown's office in Cornwall. They’re all designated cases. "This case is yours." Whereas when I was there, you walked into the room; that was your case, and that's what you had to deal with.”]