By Richard Hobbs, Brand Contributor. Oct 17, 2024, 09:24am EDTSave Article
The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for conversations about justice systems, shedding light on some key areas in need of transformation. It particularly highlighted how emerging technologies can play a role in that transformation, with a range of justice impacts and processes necessitating quick action.
Today, technology continues to disrupt and have a marked impact on justice systems. But it also offers the potential to transform systems so that they are more efficient and equitable. As discussed in Justice Reimagined: Exploring Opportunities to Help Transform Justice Systems—a report from Deloitte Global that explores the long-term impacts of the pandemic on justice systems—with every change factor comes opportunity.
Technology as a change factor
The emergence of advanced technologies can be seen as a double-edged sword when it comes to justice systems. On the one hand, the proliferation of digital technologies has spawned an increase in organized, technology-enabled, and transnational crime. Cybercrime is seen as a high or very high threat by 60% of Interpol members, with 70% believing it will increase significantly in the coming years. Even more problematic is the rise of crime as a service, in which cybercrime skills are provided to others for a fee.
The widespread use of smartphones and the growth of online platforms is also escalating challenges in managing the growing volume and complexity of digital evidence. Many law enforcement agencies worldwide face inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled professionals, and inconsistent implementation of new technologies, which in turn risks disparities in justice delivery and a growing strain on forensic analysis.
On the other hand, technology is increasingly being integrated into justice systems around the world to improve operations. In many cases, technology adoption in justice systems accelerated during the pandemic to allow operations to continue despite physical restrictions. Courts, for example, had to shift operations and make use of virtual technology and electronic filing. Now, cloud infrastructure, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and digital communication platforms are helping to build efficiency and enhance investigative processes—as well as fostering a more inclusive and accessible experience throughout justice systems.
Technology as an opportunity
While technology is presenting a host of challenges to justice systems, it’s clear that it also brings opportunities. The key is for systems to recognize these opportunities and make the most of them. Below are a few examples of how justice systems can use technology to further transform operations and approaches.
- Developing one continuum: Justice systems currently work as a collection of agencies and could benefit from becoming a single continuum with greater collaboration between stakeholders. In the UK, for example, there is an ongoing drive to create a continuum of internal collaboration and sharing of data—building up a view across the components of the justice system, from police to courts to probation. Underlying the effort is an understanding that leveraging data-driven insights can improve justice outcomes. Developing such a system can reap rewards in the form of early intervention and prevention, a full view of an individual’s journey, and a holistic understanding of a victim’s experience throughout the system.
- Modernizing the court system: The introduction of more modern methods of operation during the pandemic, such as remote proceedings, highlighted the potential for court modernization and the ability to streamline a person’s journey through the justice process. Justice systems can build on this momentum to continue streamlining and automating repetitive processes within the courts. Innovations in low-tech are providing faster and broader access to justice for many citizens, and courts around the world are harnessing technology in new ways to simplify and enhance the experience. For example, in recent years both Estonia and Singapore have launched chatbots and guided questionnaires to help citizens navigate their legal systems.
- Leveraging digitalization, automation, and AI: Justice systems around the world are underpinned by legacy technology systems. Staff may be required to use these systems—along with emails, phone calls, and offline processes. But digitalization is allowing organizations in the UK and Canada to reengineer these systems and processes, replacing them with agile digital services. AI and automation can streamline tasks throughout case management and can improve monitoring by linking individuals to specific programs or social service agencies and track their progress. Shared technological ecosystems, infrastructures, and architectures can also enable predictive analytics and forecasting, yielding a holistic view of cases, defendants, victims, and outcomes. This can improve decision-making at all stages of the system. And work to improve data quality to ensure that data is fair and well-governed can help minimize human error and bias in justice activities.
- Using evidence based on data to support changes: It’s critical that justice systems commit to generating proof of their success as they transform—not only for policymakers but for others who can benefit from their learning. To that end, justice systems can leverage the significant advances in data processing power and techniques brought about by cloud computing, data science, and AI by committing to collecting the right data about a policy from the start. With an effective data strategy, there could be improved understanding of what works and for whom in transformed justice systems.
The integration of technology into justice system operations does present certain risks, including concerns relating to cybersecurity, privacy, and ethics as well as the rapid rate at which technology now advances. Law enforcement professionals also must strike a balance between harnessing the potential of technology while protecting individual rights and mitigating the risks of growing and complex datasets, technology misuse, and ethical concerns.
But if technologies are implemented thoughtfully and with well-governed data, the potential to improve outcomes can outweigh the risks. A more streamlined, data-based, and equitable justice system will be worth the effort.
To learn more about the change factors and opportunities in justice systems, check out Justice Reimagined: Exploring Opportunities to Help Transform Justice Systems or visit the Global Government & Public Services page.
Story originally featured on Forbes.com
Richard Hobbs
Brand Contributor| Writer
Richard Hobbs is the Security and Justice Lead for Deloitte United Kingdom and oversees Deloitte Global’s justice practice. In his UK role, he has responsibility for all transformation support to the UK’s Home Office, Police Service, and Ministry of Justice at both the local and national levels. He has advised board members, ministers, secretaries of state, and chief officers on some of the most complex transformations in the sector. In his work for Deloitte Global, Richard leads support for policing, courts, prison, and probation services around the world.Read Less
