Annual Report 2016-17

31 Providing legal information Table 2. Results for the legal information program Evaluating the program’s performance An assessment of the program’s results shown in Table 2 demonstrates that our online legal information program performed well in 2016–17. Result Measures Performance Judicial officers had access to current law to assist in their day-to-day decision making. Maintain or increase use of Judicial Information Research System (JIRS). 1.4% decrease in use of JIRS throughout 2016–17 with 1.614 million total page hits. (We attribute the decrease to the system being briefly offline during our office relocation.) Maintain access to current law on JIRS. Throughout the year JIRS was available over 99% of the time. Judicial officers were 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. • 238 Recent Law items posted on JIRS throughout the year (last year: 209). • 244 summaries of select appeal decisions published on JIRS (last year: 205). • Recent Law flyer sent monthly to judicial officers. • 3 updates published for Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book . Judicial officers were promptly notified of changes in sentencing law and practice. Maintain legal accuracy of Sentencing Information Principles and Practice component of JIRS. 4 updates to the Sentencing Bench Book . Sentencing principles in Sentencing Bench Book linked to new cases and legislation. Accurate sentencing information was available to judicial officers. Maintain sentencing statistics on JIRS on the range and frequency of penalties imposed in similar cases. Sentencing data was received, audited and loaded on JIRS within 4 months of receipt. Maintain information that explains why a sentence was passed. Access provided to case details from sentencing graphs, including sentencing remarks in all District Court of NSW and appeal cases published on Caselaw site. This provides detailed information as to why the specific sentence was imposed. Maintain information about sentences that other judicial officers have given in similar circumstances. Published 53 summaries of significant appeal decisions in the Judicial Officers’ Bulletin . Information about sentencing was communicated. Maintain or increase publication of Sentencing Trends & Issues papers, research papers and monographs. 1 Sentencing Trends & Issues paper (last year: 2) and a 2-volume research monograph were published (last year: 1 monograph). Advised the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Provide information in response to requests for specific sentencing issues. Responded to 1 substantial research request from a judicial officer (last year: 10) and 11 non-judicial enquiries (last year: 21). Judicial officers were informed about sentencing options and rehabilitation facilities for offenders. Maintain current information about service providers in services directory on JIRS. Information and contact details in the Services Directory regularly monitored, updated and hyperlinked throughout the year. JIRS was improved to meet judicial officers’ needs. Maintain or increase number of improvements to JIRS. During 2016–17, 10 enhancements (last year: 14) were made to JIRS to respond to feedback. Expenditure was within budget. According to budget plan. As at 30 June 2017, legal information expenditure was $2.29 million, representing 36% of overall expenditure.