Justice at the Regional Level - Lower Crime, Lighter Workload for Judges
On November 16, 2022, the Institute for Market Economics (IME) presented the latest study "Regional Profiles: Development Indicators 2022" at the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). The study includes an overview of the economic and social development of all 28 regions in Bulgaria, examined through 68 specific indicators. The state of the justice system by region is just one of the topics covered in the profiles, as it is of significant interest in the context of the current political crisis, the difficulties faced by parliamentary parties in forming a government, and the expressed ambitions of some of them to prioritize judicial reform.
The statistics on crimes against persons and property (assuming they are the basis for providing the public service of "justice") in recent years show a significant decline. The number of registered crimes is nearly half between 2010 and 2021 (from 17 per 1000 population to 9.8 per 1000). The number of crimes registered in the first year of the COVID-19 crisis remains at a very similar level in 2021.
Regionally, data on registered crimes against persons and property show significant differences, ranging from 13.6 per 1000 population in Montana to 4.5 per 1000 population in Smolyan. Higher crime rates are observed in some regions of northwestern Bulgaria, as well as in more densely populated and larger regions. The differences between individual regions are due to various factors, primarily social and economic development and demographics.
The clearance rate of crimes also varies between regions, with the highest rate in the Gabrovo region, where nearly 75% of all registered crimes are cleared, and the lowest rate in the capital, where only one-third of crimes are cleared in 2021. Once again, we see that clearance rates are relatively lower in larger regions, while in regions with lower crime rates, the overall clearance rate is higher. On average, 51.7% of registered crimes against persons and property were cleared in 2021.
The workload of criminal judges reflects the functioning of the judicial system. The decrease in workload between 2010 and 2021 is slight, with each judge handling an average of about 9-10 cases per month. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, the workload is slightly lower, but in 2021, it again reaches around 9 cases per month.
At the regional level, significant differences are observed again, with a four-fold difference between the most heavily loaded judges in Kyustendil and the least heavily loaded judges in Smolyan. Except for the Varna region, judges in smaller, less populated regions have relatively lower workloads. A high judge workload does not always imply limited access and low quality of justice, as a large number of cases per judge in the long term often correlates with higher qualifications, increased efficiency, and more in-depth judicial practice due to exposure to a greater variety of cases. However, the threshold beyond which the number of cases becomes excessive, and quantity adversely affects the quality of justice is the subject of further, more in-depth analysis.
In conclusion, we should note that the significant differences at the local level in the quantity and quality of services provided in the justice field also lead to varying perceptions among citizens regarding protection. Perhaps it is time for judicial reform plans to include, in addition to crucial provisions for the rule of law and fighting corruption, measures that are understandable to citizens and will improve freedom for people and businesses while enhancing protection and the quality of life in the regions.
