Without adequate reinforcement of men and staff, the new Single Court for individuals, families and minors could go haywire even before it is born. The numbers are enough to confirm this: from the 1100 proceedings that currently weigh on the three magistrates of the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office and the four (the regular staff would be 6) of the Juvenile Court, those linked to separations, divorces, family law, voluntary jurisdiction and custody of minors which currently fall under the jurisdiction of the Courts of Cagliari, Oristano and Lanusei. Tens of thousands of files that risk falling on juvenile magistrates starting from next October 17th.

The alarm

The juvenile prosecutor, Anna Cau, raised the alarm, aware that the current lack of resources endangers the start-up and operation of the new family court. «There is great concern», he clarifies, «in all those who, in different capacities, operate in the sector. In particular: at present the organic plans are not defined, for the determination of which a realistic reconstruction of the new workload is essential, through a careful analysis of the flows of proceedings in the juvenile court and ordinary courts". Just to do the math: the Court of Cagliari alone in one year handled 2842 family proceedings (divorces and separations), over 11 thousand support administrations, 3900 guardianship proceedings, all files that would now end up on the desks of the current magistrates minors. In addition there are the procedures of Lanusei and Oristano.

The discoveries

«It is necessary to equip the new offices, judging and prosecuting, with a suitable number of administrative staff units», continues the Juvenile Prosecutor, «the criteria for appointing the coordinating judges for the district sections are missing, in which the appointment of a president. Furthermore, the staff of the new prosecutor's offices cannot be that of the current prosecutor's offices for minors, as a strong implementation of existing resources is necessary".

The extension

The handover is scheduled for 17 October, but almost all the operators of the Sardinian juvenile justice system (presidents of the courts, public prosecutors, bar associations and associations) believe that an extension is necessary for the entry into force of the new Family Court, waiting for the Ministry to organize the functioning of the new judicial and prosecuting offices. «The launch of the Single Court, without adequate organization and evaluation of the parts of the reform already in force», concludes Anna Cau, «creates protection gaps to the detriment of minors, families and vulnerable people».

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