Harsher penal sanctions will not affect the crime rate, according to a defense lawyer.
Elsworth Johnson said the government has displayed its "panic mode" with the attitude that "if they can hang somebody and institute harsher penalties they will solve crime".
Johnson said in some instances politicians are encroaching on constitutional rights of citizens, but "they don't care".
Johnson, who is the vice president of the Bahamas Bar Association, made his comments as a private member of the Bar.
He noted that Professor Sir Hilary Beckles said that when leaders are lost for ideas on how to fight crime, they arm the police force, step up penalties and build bigger prisons instead of addressing the root of the problem through education.
Johnson said the mandatory minimum sentence for firearms possession will have no effect on gun offenses if the system does not work efficiently.
The government has announced plans to increase the number of specialist courts for firearms offenses.
Johnson said the internal administration of the system is sometimes wanting.
He noted that oftentimes the prosecution does not have its witnesses present for trial and courts are now giving adjournments for June 2012.
He noted that the government brought in Jamaican director of public prosecutions Vinette Graham-Allen to improve conviction rates, but she "lacks the machinery of her office to work properly because she does not have the prosecutors or the investigators [she needs to get the job done]."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian