PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH:
IN "MOLLET DEL VALLÈS", IN 1954.
ACADEMIC STUDIES:
DEGREE IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA.
POLITICAL CAREER:
EX-MAYORESS OF MOLLET DEL VALLÈS, 'EX-REGIONAL HOME MINISTER', AND SINCE NOVEMBER 2006, RESPONSABLE FOR JUSTICE
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In the 'regional ministry'. Montserrat Tura, in her office, last monday. Photo: ALBERT BERTRAN
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--Is the Justice Department 'overloaded'?
--There are courts which are slow and overloaded. In recent years some inadequate decisions have been made, and therefore, the situation, rather than improving, has worsened.
--What steps should have been taken?
--Measures which make justice not only a basic power of the rule of law, but also a quality public service. Fundamentally, technology and professional training.
--Who is to blame?
--We have to blame those who criticize the functioning of justice but the next day do not change the way they work. That is, from the Public Administration - including the Ministry of Justice, the Generalitat and the Council of the Judiciary - to judges, clerks, officials, lawyers, attorneys ... In all public systems there is a moment that breaks with the past and the future begins to be written. I believe this has happened, but more resources are needed, more desire, more training, more positive attitude towards change and more laws that endorse what is being done.
--But there are problems in enforcing judgments.
--- "Mari Luz's" case has made it clear to the public that is not enough to judge, but we also have to execute what has been judged. There have been statements by the Judicial Council, the Minister of Justice, the Deputy Prime Minister and the President. And everyone says that more resources have to be allocated to justice. I wish that what has been will not be forgotten within a month.
--That is, a new case like that of "Mari Luz" could happen again.
--There is no perfect system, but there are things you can do to avoid such cases. For example, courts could incorporate a database with judgments that are in course or are pending. Otherwise, we will have an Administration that still relies on the memory of the administrative officer.
--Have the courts become more saturated as a result of the new traffic offenses?
--The traffic offenses imply more work. In 2000 we had almost 700 dead and now we have 350. The decline has occurred in the past four years as a result of applying strong measures. We have avoided 1,200 road death victims and makes it worth the effort.
--Have the number of collaborating institutions been increased in order to comply with sanctions such as those of doing social work for the benefit of the community?
--In the 2008 budget, an extraordinary allocation was made, and agreements were reached with organizations, so that traffic offenders could serve their sentences by doing work in favour of the community.
--Have programs for traffic offenders been implemented in prisons?
--In the "Modelo Prison" in Barcelona, we have begun a program for criminal traffic offenses, in the same way as for those convicted of domestic violence or sexual assault. For criminal traffic offenses, the program is shorter, because the sentences are usually shorter. The course analyzes why transgressive and violent behavior occurs, so little respectful to the other drivers, and attempts to redirect the behavior. The course lasts a month. In the case of detection of drug abuse, a treatment is added for drug addiction. If it is found that the person simply has a behavior pattern of violent response, which also affects that persons way of driving, then a dissuasion effort is made.
--How is the new prison building plan progressing?
--The prison plan is being developed in a more realistic way than originally announced. It was planned for the 2004-2010 period but will not be completed until 2012. At this moment there are three prisons under construction, which had never happened before: "Sant Joan de Vilatorrada", the young offenders prison of "Quatre Camins" (which will replace the "Trinity" prison), and "Figueres".
--When will the "Trinitat" prison be demolished?
--I have asked the Mayor of Barcelona that the day we move out the last inmate, then it will be demolished. It is a building which does not meet current living condition requirements, due to the growth of the prison population, it may still be used as a prison.
--What is the situation in the case of the "Modelo Prison"?
--For the first time in many years, the Modelo Prison is below the limits. There are now 1,890 prisoners and previously there were 2,200.
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Montserrat Tura: "In la Modelo (a prison in Barcelona) there exists a program for condemned motorists"
