Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice

Context

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has three core functions that include: providing leadership for the sector, providing policy advice, and providing services. MoJ's services include:

• services for the Courts and to the Waitangi Tribunal
• negotiation for settlements of historical claims arising from the Treaty of Waitangi
• administration of Parliamentary elections,by-elections and referenda
• collection and enforcement of court-imposed monetary penalties, infringements, and civil debt.

Ministry of Justice E-government Initiatives

• Māori Land Court information integration with LINZ
• Data sharing Hub
• Implementation of Justice Information Strategy
• Intranet review

Summary

Ready Access: MoJ provides ready access to information and services, especially through its Elections, Fines, and Waitangi Tribunal websites. MoJ also provides ready access to a large number of its information resources and services through the government portal.

Alignment: MoJ uses the Internet to provide information and deliver some services. As the recognised lead agency in the Justice sector, MoJ is continuing to lead work on the Justice Information Strategy. This aims to improve access to integrated information for people who work within the Justice sector and the public.

Internet and Communications Technology

Justice Sector The Justice Information Strategy (JIS) outlines the goals and objectives for information technology across the Justice sector between 2003 and 2006. The JIS outlines four goals that have a number of underlying sector-wide initiatives to be implemented.

Previous JIS initiatives have highlighted the need for project governance. A governance structure has now been introduced, based on the recommendations of the Review of the Centre for a centrally mandated network.

Ministry of Justice JIS initiatives have assisted MoJ to share information with other agencies using the Internet and networks. Generally, information sharing has been successful, although existing siloed information structures have increased the potential for errors in managing and handling information. Consequently, MoJ is introducing more centralised systems to better support information handling and sharing.

A new information sharing 'hub' will help coordinate information sharing within MoJ and with external agencies. The hub will be integral to all new application-based, information sharing IT systems within MoJ. Resources permitting, existing applications and databases may also be channelled through the hub.

The hub will support MoJ's data exchange with external applications, including the Police's National Intelligence Application (NIA) and the Department of Correction's Integrated Offender Management System (IOMS). The hub will better enable MoJ to meet the needs of evolving legislation, such as the requirements of the Clean Slate legislation planned for implementation in late 2004.

Increasing the use of integrated information systems and processes will require some legislative changes. For example, legislative changes would be needed to permit electronic filing of affidavits, and to remove the requirements for paper copies to be kept.

MoJ is reviewing other information management systems. For example, a review of the intranet is intended, with the goal of making it more effective for staff to find information and stay informed. A content management system may be introduced to improve information management on the intranet.

Ready Access to Information and Services

Metadata

With 264 metadata records, MoJ provides a great deal of information through the government portal. This reflects the large amount of information on the MoJ website, including research reports and publications, and the Ministry's role, especially following the merger with the Department for Courts.

MoJ's metadata records are at a more granular level than other agencies' metadata. This reflects the nature of the services provided, and the number of forms that can be downloaded.

Website Assessment

Websites assessed during May 2004 included:

www.justice.govt.nz
www.elections.org.nz
www.fines.govt.nz
www.ots.govt.nz
www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz

Sites excluded: www.jsis.govt.nz

Overall, there is room for improvement to MoJ's websites, particularly the delivery of information on the corporate site. However, the Elections, Fines On-Line, and Waitangi Tribunal sites are all of a good standard.

In general, the strengths of the sites are in accessibility. Key issues noted during the assessments included:

• Good range and depth of content.
• Absence or under-delivery of e-services, except on the Elections and Fines On-Line sites. It is noted that MoJ has an exemption in the Electronic Transactions Act 2003.
• Usability and site navigation could be improved for easier use.
• More inter-linking within each site would be useful.
• Contact details could be more specific to enable responsive handling of enquires.
• Many broken links mean that people may not be able to access some content.
• It is unclear which fields are required fields in online forms.
• Poor logo links.
• Little use of style sheets and style-related accessibility requirements.
• Many documents in PDF only, without formats and sizes. Although PDF's are used to preserve the look and style of some documents, alternative formats should be provided.
• Two oversize homepages - OTS and MLC.
• Browser inconsistency across all sites.
• Missing website policies mean people may be unsure about feedback and complaints.
• Accountability documents are difficult to locate.

Alignment With E-government Goals

Convenience and Satisfaction

Some information on the main website is tailored for different audiences. However, better presentation of information would make information more accessible and easier to find, especially on the corporate site. Information for the public could be more clearly presented to show the Ministry's relationships with other agencies within the Justice sector.

MoJ is carrying out a feasibility study to determine the suitability of a Justice sector portal. Because the Justice sector involves a number of agencies and has a broad audience, a portal may be an effective way to present information from a number of sources.

Some online services are available. For example, Fines OnLine enables people to check if they have outstanding fines imposed by the Court or infringement notices they need to pay.

Integration and Efficiency

Information within the Justice sector is relatively well integrated. Since 1996, the sector has had an information strategy that has included developing a common information directory, a data dictionary, and implementing standards and protocols for information sharing. It has also included integrating data and information, improving access, and implementing ways to securely transfer electronic information.

Current JIS goals, a Justice sector portal, the information sharing hub, and other initiatives will further improve information integration.

Participation

MOJ contributes to participation through its parliamentary elections website. People can download an enrolment form and check their enrolment details online.

As MoJ's main website is primarily informational, it offers few opportunities to participate.

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