AIMS/OBJECTIVES FOR THE DELTA STATE SMART JUDICIARY
The aim of this research is to design and implement a judicial information system. The following are the specific objectives:
1. To store judiciary case files electronically
2. To develop a system that will provide an interface to easily capture court case information.
3. To aid the easy updating and retrieving of judiciary case files
4. To develop a system that can be used to mine data pertaining to registered case files.
5. To provide a system that presents reports pertaining individual case files when needed
PROBLEMS FACED
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution with the authority to adjucate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. In both common law and civil law systems, courts as the central means for dispute resolution and it is generally understood that all persons have an ability to bring their claims before a court. Similarly, the right of those accused of a crime include the right to present a defense before a court. The system of courts that interpret and apply the law are collectively known as the judiciary. The place where a court sits is known as a venue. The room where court proceedings occur is known as a court-room and the building is a court-house The manual way of processing and recording judiciary cases is associated with a lot of problems. Several problems characterize the justice system such as:
1. Lack of responsibility for cases,
2. Poor communication among the criminal justice institutions,
3. The lack of reliable central case recording system
4. and the prolonged delay of court cases in general.
BENEFITS OF JUDICIAL CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
The length of time awaiting-trial persons stay in prison is too lengthy thereby leading to congestion of prisons. There is high level of delay in administration of justice. This situation is present as the result of the absence of an efficient system to manage court cases. It is in view of these problems that this research study is embarked upon in order to bring forth benefits and aids to the Judiciary system such as:
✓ Improving the primary processes of courts, which is processing filed cases to adjudication.
✓ It is a means to pursue the institutional mission of resolving disputes with due process and in a due time.
✓ may also help build public confidence in the effectiveness of the courts and the accountability of judges.
✓ On the other hand, this solution will provide the courts a rapid shift from the conventional method of pen and paper tracking system using the case log to electronic case tracking, electronic service of court processes and accessing automated cases from case files.
✓ Furthermore, additional categories of case information are entered into the system to provide judges, judicial assistants and other staff with more detail on case progress and case events.