Judicial Information Research System (JIRS)

The Judicial Information Research System (JIRS) is an online database for judicial officers, the courts, the legal profession and government agencies that play a role in the administration of justice. Developed by the Judicial Commission of NSW, JIRS is an extensive, interconnected and hyperlinked resource that contains case summaries, case law, legislation, sentencing principles, sentencing statistics and other reference material. It is our principal means for communicating changes in the criminal law and ensures that judicial officers are kept informed of the latest developments in law and practice.

The database was the first of its kind in Australia and is recognised as a world leader in the field of computerised legal databases.

Primary legal reference material

The primary legal reference material contained on JIRS includes the full text of judgments from the High Court, NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Land and Environment Court and Industrial Relations Commission, as well selected judgments from the NSW District Court, Local Court and Children’s Court of NSW. It also includes point-in-time and current NSW and Commonwealth Acts and subordinate legislation.

Secondary legal reference material

The secondary legal reference material includes case summaries in the form of NSWCCA summaries and Recent Law items, commentary on the principles and practice of sentencing, and publications, such as Bench Books and Handbooks including:

• Sentencing Bench Book
• Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book
• Local Court Bench Book
• Civil Trials Bench Book
• Equality before the Law Bench Book
• Sexual Assault Trials Handbook
• Children’s Court of NSW Resource Handbook
• Handbook for Judicial Officers

The function of the Bench Books is to provide guidance for judicial officers, however, their general publication enables them to serve as resources for all legal practitioners and others who seek a better understanding of the legal principles and practice in NSW. It is hoped their general publication will enhance the contribution of the Bench Books to the efficient administration of justice.

Recent Law items include commentary on legislation, court decisions (primarily from the Court of Criminal Appeal) and other developments, relating to the criminal law as it affects the work of NSW courts.

Research material and sentencing statistics

Quantitative reference material is available in the form of comprehensive and dynamic sentencing statistics, which provide a guide to the pattern of sentences imposed by the courts for criminal offences and are located by reference to the sections of relevant legislation. The sentencing statistics allow investigation of various case characteristics which may form the basis of relevant comparative material by drilling down to a table of case details showing summary information of related cases and links to judgments where they are available.

Subscriptions

JIRS is available to the broader legal profession, libraries and educational institutions on a paid subscription basis.

Benefits of a paid subscription to JIRS include:

Sentencing information

• Access to sentencing statistics from the NSW Local Court, District and Supreme Courts, Court of Criminal Appeal, Children’s Court and Land and Environment Court
• Sentencing Date Calculator – access to a bespoke calculator designed to assist in avoiding calculation errors in back-dating or forward-dating single, multiple (“Pearce”), or aggregate (s 53A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999) NSW sentences

Bench Books

• Hyperlinked references to text of judgments
• Hyperlinked references to point-in-time and current NSW and Commonwealth legislation

Case/Recent Law summaries

• Access to NSWCCA summaries and Recent Law summaries

Judgments

• Access to full text of judgments including from the High Court, NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Land and Environment Court, and Industrial Relations Commission, linked to Bench Book and Recent Law commentary where applicable

Legislation

• Access to point-in-time and current NSW and Commonwealth Acts and subordinate legislation
• Hyperlinked references from provisions to relevant material including sentencing statistics, Bench Books, Recent Law, case summaries, maximum penalties and offence packages which include a compilation of information from JIRS pertaining to the offence
• Comprehensive compilation of defined terms found in the legislation.

Existing subscribers

For NSW government court and legal support staff (eg Crown Solicitors, DPP and Legal Aid) without direct access to JIRS while working from home, please send an email to jirs@judcom.nsw.gov.au with your name, email address, position and organisation to obtain a username and password.

If you already have a JIRS username and password you can login here:  https://jirs.judcom.nsw.gov.au/

New subscription information

To arrange for subscriptions please contact the Judicial Commission at jirs@judcom.nsw.gov.au or phone +61 2 9299 4421

Subscription rates

Rates per organisation/chambers:
1-2 users $1,780 p.a. plus GST
3-5 users $2,340 p.a. plus GST
6-10 users $3,010 p.a. plus GST
>10 users $3,790 p.a. plus GST

Library subscriptions

Multiple user connection (library connection) $3,790 p.a. plus GST

Commencement of subscription

Subscriptions start on 1st July until 30th June. New subscribers commencing after 1st July will be on pro rata basis for the remaining period of the financial year.

Invoicing

Invoices are processed in advance on 1st July each year, and are payable within 30 days. New subscriber invoices, on a pro rata basis, are also payable within 30 days.

Existing users as at 30 June will be automatically invoiced on 1 July for the next financial year unless otherwise advised. Please notify jirs@judcom.nsw.gov.au and accounts@judcom.nsw.gov.au if you do not want to renew your subscription.

Cancellation of subscription

Cancellation must be in writing, with emails being acceptable evidence of a request to cancel subscriptions. If cancelled within the first 45 days, a full credit is granted. After the first 45 days, a pro rata credit will be issued for the unused period to 30th June.

Modified JIRS for iPads and mobile devices

Select information from JIRS is freely available to the broader legal profession and the public on the JIRS Resources App for tablet users. The app provides an updating content feed of recent legal developments (case law and legislation) in the NSW and Commonwealth jurisdictions. In addition, the app allows the user to manage personal copies of the electronic versions of our Bench Books and access selected pieces of legislation. This app is designed to be of use for judicial officers, lawyers and police prosecutors, as well as law students from NSW, particularly when working in locations where there is limited internet access available.

The JIRS Resources App is now available on the App Store and on Google Play.