Justice System Strained: Croatia Lacks Judicial Police, Court Hearings Postponed

Croatia's judicial system is experiencing significant disruptions due to a severe shortage of judicial police officers. This lack of personnel is causing numerous court hearings to be postponed, a situation described as increasingly bizarre by some. The primary reason cited for these delays is the inability of prisons and detention centers to transport inmates and detainees to scheduled court appearances.

Jelenko Krešo, deputy president of the Croatian Judicial Police Union (SPPH), has been vocal about the issue, warning that the prison system is "bursting at the seams." The union has consistently highlighted the understaffing problem for years. Their duties, which include escorting prisoners to court and medical appointments, are becoming increasingly difficult to manage with the current number of officers.

Conversely, the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Digital Transformation disputes the union's claims. Minister Damir Habijan frequently states that there are enough judicial police officers. He points to a recent recruitment drive where 300 people applied for 70 positions, suggesting ample interest. Habijan also defends the current salary of approximately 1800 euros for judicial police officers, deeming it sufficient, despite his own earnings being double that amount. This disagreement underscores a significant tension between the union's on-the-ground experience and the ministry's official stance on staffing levels.

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Sudske rasprave odgađaju se zbog svakakvih razloga, najčešće zbog bolesti nekog od sudionika u postupku, no u posljednje vrijeme sve ih se više odgađa i zbog jednog, mnogi bi rekli, podosta bizarnog razloga. A taj je razlog da pojedini zatvori i kaznionice ne mogu dovesti zatvorenike i pritvorenike na zakazanu sudsku raspravu jer nemaju dovoljno ljudi!