The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) secured a staggering 89 percent conviction rate in 2025, even as the department battles a severe human resource crisis.
During the opening of the Law Year 2026 on Monday the DPP, Clement Joseph, revealed that his office is currently operating at just 50 percent of its staff capacity. However, he noted that despite this shortfall the office has successfully prosecuted 42 out of the 47 matters brought before the High Court last year.
“We are now at 50 percent of our authorized staff, but yet they hold their own. They deserve a round of applause for being the steadfast frontline soldiers,” DPP Joseph said.
The annual report highlighted a 100 percent conviction rate during the January 2025 assizes and a 95 percent success rate in the following term. Joseph explicitly credited Senior Crown Counsel Shannon Jones-Gittens and her team for a “remarkable accomplishment” during the January session, where 10 prosecutions resulted in 10 convictions.
In total, the year saw five murder convictions and 20 convictions for sexual offences. However, Joseph sounded an alarm regarding a disturbing trend in national security.
“We’ve seen an uptick in firearm offences in the jurisdiction, as well as sexual offences, particularly against minors. “Female minors by grown men—that is sad.” the DPP stated.
Statistics showed that 73 percent of the sexual offence convictions involved crimes committed against children.
To address these “bread and butter issues” Joseph is pivoting toward a major legislative overhaul. Plans are currently underway to replace the “archaic” Larceny Act with a modern Theft Act and to strengthen the Sexual Offences Act by adopting best practices from Jamaica, Guyana and Dominica.
The Director of Public Prosecutions also emphasized that modernizing firearm laws is a priority to assist police who are doing a “superb job” in seizures.
The DPP credited the year’s high performance to a “24/7 open-door policy” with the Commissioner of Police, Everton Jeffers. This collaboration allows for early prosecutorial input on serious matters “as soon as they happen,” ensuring a stronger case product for the courts.
Joseph concluded his address by recognizing the “unsung heroes” of the justice system—the police prosecutors and officers at the Magistrate’s Court who “absorb and do a lot of work” to maintain the system’s momentum.
Moving forward into 2026, the DPP emphasized that filling these vacancies and passing new legislation will be the top priority to ensure the office maintains its high success rate. He told the court that the ultimate goal remains a stronger, more efficient “product” of justice for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
