DPP Reports 89% Conviction Rate Despite Operating at Half Staff Capacity

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions achieved an 89 percent conviction rate in 2025 while operating with only half its authorized staff, Director of Public Prosecutions Clement Joseph announced Monday.

Speaking at the Special Sitting for the opening of the 2026 law year, Joseph revealed alarming trends in criminal activity while highlighting his office’s success in securing convictions despite severe staffing challenges.

“We are now at 50 percent of our authorized staff,” Joseph said, noting that the jurisdiction has seen “an uptick in firearm offenses, as well as sexual offenses, particularly against minor females by grown men.”

The DPP’s office prosecuted 62 matters throughout 2025, securing 42 convictions from 47 prosecutions. The convictions included five murders and 20 sexual offense cases, with 73 percent of the sexual offense convictions involving crimes against minors.

Breaking down the year’s results by assize sessions, Joseph provided impressive statistics:

In the January assizes, the office had zero acquittals from 17 cases, with 10 prosecutions resulting in 10 convictions—a 100 percent success rate that included two murders and seven sexual offenses.

The May assizes saw 23 arraignments with only one acquittal and three dismissals. Of the 20 cases prosecuted, 19 resulted in convictions for a 95 percent success rate, including two murders and four sexual offenses.

The September assizes recorded 22 arraignments with four acquittals and five dismissals. Of the 17 cases prosecuted, 13 resulted in convictions for a 76 percent success rate, including one murder and nine sexual offenses.

Joseph gave special recognition to Senior Crown Counsel Shannon Jones-Gittens and her team for the January assizes accomplishment, noting “that remarkable accomplishment deserves recognition.”