I wouldn't necessarily say that removing the preliminary hearing and taking cases directly to trial would change their experience of the justice process. A preliminary hearing is a low-barrier access-to-justice space. They are able to actually go through a process that can sometimes help them to not go through the whole process eventually, depending on the direction the case takes. Repeating your story again and again and going through that whole retraumatization is definitely something I agree with in your question, but I don't necessarily think removing preliminary hearings will help, especially the clients we are discussing today, who are criminalized through the processes. I don't think that's something that will help.
On September 26th, 2018. See this statement in context.