Improving justice systems and processes
We live in a digital world, influenced by technology. Our justice systems are changing, and we want to use new technologies to shape them.
In the 2017 to 2018 Programme for Government, we made a commitment to invest in the development of a Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC).
This will improve how evidence is accessed across the justice system, making it easier to share and cases to be resolved more quickly.
DESC aims to improve the creation, storage and access of digital evidence, such as images, video and documentation, across the justice sector.
We plan to do testing this year. We are also going to roll out a new system in local areas with our partners in Police Scotland, and prosecution and defence lawyers, later this year and during 2019.
We have also worked with criminal justice organisations to increase the use of TV links for the imprisoned accused in criminal court cases.
And we have put new legislation in place which will allow greater use of technology such as electronic signature and service of documents.
Improving online information and access to services
mygov.scot translates government legislation and policy into clear and easy to understand information for the public.
It's designed around users' needs, and aims to make it as easy as possible for individuals and businesses to find what they want quickly, (without having to know how the public sector in Scotland is organised.)
mygov.scot is evolving as the single point of access for finding out about public services in Scotland.
Civil and criminal justice issues on mygov.scot include:
- debt
- housing repossession
- support for victims and witnesses of crime
- financial advice after a relationship break-up
We're taking this work a step further through our CivTech data challenge.
It's focused on using technology to create an interactive experience that helps users find relevant public services quickly.
It will make it easier for people to find the information they need when they're in crisis. Or if they don't know which organisations will be able to give them advice and support.
The first topic will be relationship breakdown.