Postgraduate Research Fellowship Report - Alexus McNally
Project Title: Fair Trial Rights for Children in Conflict with the Law in Trinidad and Tobago
Fellow: Alexus McNally
In January 2025, with the support of Trinity Research in Social Sciences (TRiSS), I had the opportunity to travel to Trinidad and Tobago and support access to justice with Incarceration Nations Network (INN) and the University of the West Indies. While there, I was able to advance my doctoral research; convene a training session on fair trial rights and justice-involved youth for law students; facilitate a visit to the Women’s Prison and Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre; and support a legal aid clinic. I connected with people behind bars and local community members, got a taste of Trinidadian culture, and helped inspire the next generation of law students to pursue careers in criminal justice.
The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, graciously let me use the Alma Jordan Library. Browsing the shelves, I was able to find local textbooks critical for my comparative research on the impact of colonization on the criminal justice system. Quickly, my arms became overladen with books, and I staggered back to a carrel to pour over them. Soon, my research led me to non-legal sections of the library, and I marveled over anthropological and historical texts on slavery, criminology, and Trinidad’s founding. My investigation was supplemented by my engagements with stakeholders and the community.
At the Women’s Prison, I learned of the 101 women currently incarcerated in Trinidad, many of whom were in pretrial detention and have been waiting years for their trials. One woman said she is in her seventh year of incarceration and is still waiting to be indicted: formally charged with a crime. Their stories, of a system that had thrown them away and largely forgotten them, were heartbreaking. Dozens of the women did not have legal representation; those who did had not heard from their lawyers for months. They had not seen their families. Their children were growing up without them. The situation for incarcerated girls was no better. Appallingly, most of the imprisoned girls were charged with criminal damage arising from incidents in state monitored welfare residences where they had been wards. To address some of these issues, I reached out to the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority and the Public Defender’s Department. We were able to coordinate a session inside of the Women’s Prison and the Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre where individuals could speak with attorneys and apply for legal aid services.
I also helped facilitate access to justice in the community beyond bars, supporting a mobile legal aid clinic in Mayaro, a town far from the capital and legal resources. 44 people sought legal advice at the clinic. Women were primarily the direct beneficiaries of the clinic. Overwhelmingly, beneficiaries (26) sought assistance with civil matters, primarily involving property disputes. Many people served (12 people) also sought assistance with family and child matters. Most individuals (32 people) reported that they did not have an attorney to assist with their matter. One person remarked in their exit survey that they had never before spoken to a lawyer.
This experience was very rewarding and insightful. I was able to learn fromTrinidadians from all walks of life about their justice system. These are insights that will help inform my research. Furthermore, I am overjoyed to have been able to play a small role in facilitating access to justice abroad. I am grateful to TRiSS for making it possible.