Crime has been a significant issue in this federal election. But many people who work in the justice system say that the political parties aren't talking about the most pressing issues facing the justice system. Judges, prosecutors and defence attorneys alike often say that the system is becoming dysfunctional because of under-funding and that the political focus on prisons and sentencing isn't doing anything to address the larger problems. We talk to to Beverley McLachlin, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

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PART ONE

Satire

It's Wednesday, April 6th.

Stephen Harper did not know the full extent of Bruce Carson's criminal record when he became one of the Prime Minister's top advisers.

Currently, in Harper's defence, no pictures of Carson posing with a Liberal leader showed up on his facebook page.

This is The Current.

Crime & Punishment - Justice Beverly McLachlin

The warning that Canada's justice system is under strain is coming from all directions. A number of Judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys all worry the system cannot meet the demands made of it. And tied up with that is the concern over how accessible justice is for ordinary Canadians. Beverly McLachlin is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. She has raising that concern for some time now as Chair of the Canadian Judicial Council. Madame Justice McLachlin was in Ottawa.

Crime & Punishment - Panel

The concerns Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin raised mostly involve access to justice in civil law... some say the problem is magnified when it comes to criminal law. James Chaffe is the President of the Canadian Association of Crown Council. And Heather McArthur is a defence lawyer and a Toronto Director with the Ontario Criminal Lawyers Association. They were both in Toronto.

Other segments from today's show:

• Crime & Punishment (Pt 2)
• Ai Weiwei