Guest blog: David Watts, Director, Justice Sector, CGI as part of our #DigitalJustice2021 week
Looking at the common platform, forensics, future hearings and how the UK Courts system can make better use of digital technologies to support the vulnerable, improve efficiencies and reduce costs. At the height of the pandemic, how did technology help the system to ‘carry on’? How can digital support in the response to the backlogs the courts are facing today? What does the use of online and video technology in criminal courts look like and, what are the flaws or challenges?
When I started working in the magistrates courts over 20 years ago I had no idea that I was going to follow the department on a huge journey of digital transformation over the following two decades. If you’d have described the court of today to me in 1999, it would have been hard to imagine. Back then technology barely factored in the operations of the court. Access to the court computer worked on a rota system, a privileged few had their own dedicated terminal and there was one person with a PC that was responsible for drafting all of the orders that were wet signed and put in envelopes by hand. A paper court diary was bound in folders and treated akin to a sacred text, only accessed by the anointed ones that could interpret its mysterious text. More office space was given for paper files than humans and preparing for court was considered manual labour; if counting steps was thing back then I’d certainly be hitting my targets each day. ‘Leading edge’ was Prison telephone conferences and there was a television on wheels (that we couldn’t get into all of the courtrooms because of its bulk!)
Roll forward to 2021; and the Ministry of Justice is delivering the largest digitally enabled transformation programme in its history. In the magistrates’ courts, paper files are largely a thing of the past, replaced by case management systems that are updated in real time with hearing events, accessible to all court staff and integrated with other CJS organisations. Evidence is presented digitally, courts are wifi enabled, half a million cases are dealt with outside of a physical hearing using the Single Justice Procedure Rules and in April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 90% of all case hearings took place using audio and video technology.
It’s amazing how far the courts have come, the technology has modernised but so too has the culture and the willingness to adapt and change. The global pandemic forced the hand of digital adoption in courts as a means to continue operating and it proved that citizens and the Criminal Justice System are capable of embracing technology. So where next? We all know how technology has made our everyday lives more convenient and arguably more economical but how can these everyday conveniences be used in the context of a criminal court experience and for what benefit?
What of today’s technology can be used to optimise and orchestrate the court list, improving the effectiveness of hearings and removing the stressful impact of another unnecessary court visit to a victim, taking away the pain of reliving the experience all over again, the fear of coming face to face with the perpetrator or their family and the further delay in bringing their experience to an end?
What of today’s technology can provide a platform where case participants can engage digitally where appropriate? Where experiences are tailored for each user group and include support pathways, guidance and integrations with other systems like video hearing services; where the case participants are connected and the case journey controlled, to ensure that hearings are scheduled only when appropriate. Could rules engines make non-judicial decisions about case readiness in real-time and feed them back into scheduling decisions? Could AI monitor and moderate court capacity and performance to protect the most important hearings and safeguard the most vulnerable participants?
Human interaction will always be vital and necessary for some cases, but every case could benefit when information and people were readily available when and where needed, courts could operate more efficiently, with reduced delays and fewer postponements. For court users, such as victims and witnesses, participating in trials can be less stressful and traumatic.
Looking to the longer term, this ‘Connected Court Experience’ could be extended to more court user groups, agencies and supporting organisations and bring significant improvements in the user experience and improved efficiency in court operations. Ultimately, this can positively shift public perceptions of, and confidence in, the administration of justice.
Georgina Henley
Head of Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Georgina Henley
Head of Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, then becoming Head of Programme in January 2022.
Georgie leads techUK's engagement and activity across our blue light and criminal justice services, engaging with industry and stakeholders to unlock innovation, problem solve, future gaze and highlight the vital role technology plays in the delivery of critical public safety and justice services. The JES programme represents suppliers by creating a voice for those who are selling or looking to break into and navigate the blue light and criminal justice markets.
Prior to joining techUK, Georgie spent 4 and a half years managing a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Westminster. She worked closely with the Metropolitan Police and London borough councils to prevent and reduce the impact of crime on the business community. Her work ranged from the impact of low-level street crime and anti-social behaviour on the borough, to critical incidents and violent crime.
Programme Assistant, Markets and International Trade, techUK
Jago Corry
Programme Assistant, Markets and International Trade, techUK
Jago joined techUK in July 2022 as a Programme Assistant to Financial Services, Justice and Emergency Services and International Trade. Prior to joining techUK, Jago studied an MSc in European and Global Governance at the University of Bristol.
Programme Manager, Health and Social Care & Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Robert Walker
Programme Manager, Health and Social Care & Justice and Emergency Services, techUK
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care & Justice and Emergency Services.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.
Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.
If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.
Raya Tsolova is the Programme Manager for National Security at techUK.
Raya is responsible for all National Security related activities across techUK, specifically in the established programmes of Defence, Cyber Security and Justice & Emergency Services. Raya will leverage relationships with existing stakeholders across the three programmes, and will build new relationships between techUK and key stakeholders who are of interest to member companies.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows!
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