March 11 - The team visited the criminal courts on Martinique at the invitation of Chief Prosecutor for the island of Martinique, Claude Bellenger. Claude is also a member of the Rotary Club of Fort de France Sud (South).
Since Martinique is an overseas department of France (along with Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Reunion, etc), French law applies. The courts are part of the French Ministry of Justice.
After a discussion of the French legal system with the prosecutor and his assistant Natalie Jallut (whose perfect English was very helpful), the team was able to sit in on the ongoing trial of a drug gang member accused of murder. The witness was in France and was giving testimony by video link.
Some interesting points: In the French system, the prosecutors and judges are a completely different career than that of an avocat, a defense attorney. The prosecutors work closely with the police and actually manage criminal investigations. There are changes underway in the French system, some bringing it closer to the American model. For example, plea bargaining will be introduced for criminal offenses.
According to the prosecutor, violent crime is high in Martinique, and the prison is overcrowded. Currently there are about 900 inmates, out of a population of 400,000 residents. Major crimes, including a high percentage of violence against women, often revolve around drug abuse. Drug crimes are on the rise as Martinique is now a major transshipment center for drugs coming from South America headed for North America and Europe.
The prosecutors can only stay in their positions for seven years – Claude has three years remaining in Martinique before he moves on to another posting.
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