Annual Report 2016-17

Judicial Commission of NSW – Annual Report 2016–17 8 Performance results 2015–17 and targets 2016–18 Result Measure 2015–16 result Continuing judicial education Judicial officers informed about changes to the law, community values, court practice and procedure Maintain/increase number of publications 34 publications Maintain/increase number of specialised education events offered 43 education events Education events assisted judicial officers to reach the national standard* of 5 judicial education days each year 5.8 days offered 5 days undertaken Judicial skills, attitudes and knowledge enhanced Maintain/increase ratings that our services provide judicially relevant and stimulating education and information 81% of participants satisfied that sessions relevant and applicable and 80% satisfied that sessions enhanced knowledge and capability Judicial officers satisfied with their education Maintain/improve satisfaction rates from last year 93% overall satisfaction Judicial officers satisfied with skills based workshops Maintain/improve satisfaction rates from last year 100% overall satisfaction Providing legal information Judicial officers had access to current law to assist in decision making Maintain/increase use of Judicial Information Research System (JIRS) 136,324 average page hits each month Judicial officers promptly informed about changes to criminal law and criminal practice and procedure Maintain accuracy of legislation by weekly updates; update judgments on a daily basis; maintain bench books to reflect significant changes to the law; maintain email alert service • 209 recent law items posted on JIRS • 205 summaries of select appeal decisions published on JIRS • 5 updates to Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book Judicial officers promptly notified of changes in sentencing law and practice Maintain legal accuracy of sentencing principles and practices component of JIRS 3 updates to Sentencing Bench Book Sentencing principles in Sentencing Bench Book linked to new cases and legislation Accurate sentencing information available to judicial officers Maintain sentencing statistics on JIRS on the range and frequency of penalties imposed in similar cases Sentencing data received, audited and loaded on JIRS within 4 months of receipt Maintain information about sentences that other judicial officers have given in similar circumstances Published 55 summaries of significant appeal decisions in the Judicial Officers’ Bulletin Information about sentencing communicated Maintain/increase publication of sentencing trends, research papers and monographs 2 Sentencing Trends & Issues papers published Provide information in response to requests for specific sentencing issues 10 research requests from judicial officers and 21 non-judicial enquiries responded to Judicial officers informed about sentencing options and rehabilitation facilities for offenders Maintain current information about service providers in services directory on JIRS Done JIRS improved to meet judicial officers’ needs Maintain/increase number of improvements to JIRS 14 Examining complaints Timely acknowledgment and completion of preliminary examination of complaints Maintain/decrease time taken to conduct preliminary examination of complaints Examined 78% of complaints within 3 months and 100% of complaints within 9 months Maintain time taken to formally acknowledge complaints received 100% of complaints received acknowledged within 5 working days High standard of judicial performance Compare number of complaints to number of court matters finalised during the year 350 judicial officers in NSW heard around 700,000 court matters in 2015–16. 44 complaints about 38 judicial officers made Compare number of complaints dismissed under section 20 of the Judicial Officers Act 1986 with complaints that require further action 98% of complaints were summarily dismissed under section 20 of the Judicial Officers Act 1986 No complaints required further action Maintain accessible information about complaints process Information about the complaints process and how to make a complaint was provided in the annual report, on our website, and in brochure form Responded to 441 requests for information Independence of judicial officers maintained Complaints process demonstrates integrity of complaints function Commission examined all complaints according to statutory criteria and established protocols Information gathered from the complaints process used to develop education sessions for judicial officers Monitor and analyse trends in complaints to feed into education sessions 45% of complaints arose from allegations of failure to give a fair hearing 25% of complaints arose from allegations of bias * See Appendix 3 for explanation of national standard.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjkzOTk0