 Sentencing Training for Judges and Probation OfficersPalikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): February 1, 2013 - On January 23 to January 26, 2013 a Sentencing Training was held in Colonia, Yap for judges and probation officers of the national, state and district courts of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The training was sponsored by the Pacific Judicial Development Programme (PJDP) with funding assistance from the New Zealand MFAT and management oversight by the Federal Court of Australia. This training was the first of its kind to be held in the FSM. Usually judges and probation officer have separate trainings. Though the training was basically focused on sentencing in criminal cases, other topics related to the process during pre-conviction and post-conviction were covered such as pre-trial release, pre-sentence reporting, revocation of probation, and methods of effective monitoring of probationers, etc. The training was a joint effort agreed to between Chief Justice Hon.Martin G. Yinug of the FSM and Chief Justice Hon. Carl B. Ingram of the RMI under the PJDP responsive fund programme. The implementation of the activity was made possible through efficient and effective management oversight and guidance provided by the PJDP Contracts Manager, Ms. Helen Burrows and her able subordinates at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney, most especially Ms. Krystle Praestiin. The PJDP certified regional trainer and FSM National Training Coordinator, Mr. Kapilly Capelle coordinated the planning, design and delivery of the program in-country. The facilitators (trainers) for the training were Hon. James H. Plasman of the High Court of the RMI, Hon. Nickontro W. Johnny of Pohnpei Supreme Court, Chief Clerk of the FSM Supreme Court Mr. Kohsak Keller and FSM Supreme Court General Counsel Mr. Samuel Bailey, Esq., as training contents advisor. Based on the participants' evaluation, the overall training was rated above "very good". By unanimous consensus the participants claimed that the contents were very relevant, most helpful, very interesting and allowed for a greater understanding of their roles. Everybody came away with positive views on the subject matter (contents), program delivery and the facilitators. By such measures, it is safe to say that the program was a great success for FSM and RMI judiciaries as well as for PJDP as a sponsor. The following participants were awarded certificates of attendance and completion: FSM Supreme Court Hon. Beauleen Carl Worswick, Associate Justice Pohnpei State Court Hon. Benjamin Rodriguez, Chief Justice Kosrae State Court Hon. Aliksa Aliksa, Chief Justice Chuuk State Court Hon. Camillo Noket, Chief Justice Mr. Alex Elias, Chief Probation Officer Yap State Court Hon. Cyprian Mugunbey, Associate Judge< Republic of the Marshall Islands Hon. Jimata Kabua, Presiding Judge, RMI District Court (RMIDC) |