Integrated Justice: An Information Systems Approach to Justice Sector Case Management and Information Sharing

Adam Curtis Watson,Regis Rukundakuvaga,Khachatur Matevosyan

doi:10.18352/ijca.233

Adam Curtis Watson, Regis Rukundakuvaga + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.18352/ijca.233

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Abstract

Automated Case Management Systems are still at an early stage of adoption in many developing countries. These are frequently standalone systems implemented with donor financing, and they often fail due to capacity constraints or as a consequence of short-term, project-based funding. But there are examples of developing countries overcoming these pitfalls and producing innovative solutions that surpass government practices in more developed countries. The Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), developed and implemented by the Ministry of Justice of Rwanda from 2015-2016, is one such innovation. This system has progressed rapidly in its level of adoption and integration between law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, courts, and corrections. This paper will discuss the key system functionalities and the implementation methodology, including both the benefits and shortcomings of this approach, with the goal of applying lessons learned in future installations. Foremost among the successes of this project were the integrated Sector Wide Approach, the thorough business process re-engineering, and strong ownership by the Rwandan Justice Sector staff. Particularly instructive will be the analysis of the integrated approach, covering five institutions with a single system in less than two years. However, the particular success in this case may not be replicable for governments with a more decentralized approach.

Highlights

Twenty-three years ago, Rwanda was economically, politically, and socially shattered
One of the key enablers of rapid development initially identified by the Rwandan government was Information and Communication Technology
There are five key institutions within the Rwandan Justice Sector that are directly involved in the development, processing, and execution of judicial cases

Summary

Introduction

Twenty-three years ago, Rwanda was economically, politically, and socially shattered. The current institutional organization of the Justice Sector is nascent, with the National Police and the current criminal investigation system formed and established in 2000, the Judiciary and the National Public Prosecution Authority established in 2004, and the Rwanda Correctional Services formed in 2010. There are five key institutions within the Rwandan Justice Sector that are directly involved in the development, processing, and execution of judicial cases. 4. The Implementation Approach The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), as the lead agency of the Justice Sector, issued a public procurement for an Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) based on the needs identified in the Justice Sector Strategic Plan. The prosecution, courts, and Rwanda Correctional Services were added shortly thereafter and iteratively refined In this way, software development was done logically, based on the natural process flow of a case, and in accordance with Rwandan civil and criminal procedural law. The IECMS automates the existing workflow processes of the Justice Sector and provides each institution with a configured interface to perform their specific functions, restricting access based on user roles, permissions, and case status

General Information data entry

Dashboard screen in the IECMS

Results