Manitoba boosts criminal justice staff

The Manitoba government is hiring more Crown attorneys and support staff to keep the court system running smoothly.

Justice Minister Andrew Swan says the province will fund 11 new prosecutors, six assistants, six sheriffs and seven and a half court clerk positions. Swan says the new positions should help keep up with growing demand on the court system. He says there are more police officers on the street and new laws to crack down on crime, so that means more people going to court.

The new sheriffs will be assigned to the Milner Ridge and Headingley jails.

The province's Crown attorneys have been clamouring for more staff, citing high workloads.