Ministry of Justice sets work programme for next 12 months

The Ministry of Justice has released its Statement of Intent (SOI) for the year ending 30 June 2004.

The document is informed by the Government’s goals for the social services area and sets out two longer term outcomes the justice sector is working towards that will positively impact the community. These outcomes are: safer communities and a fairer, more credible and more effective justice system.

These outcomes are shared by four agencies: NZ Police, Department for Courts, Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Justice. Each agency has also set their own 3-5 year objectives and an annual work programme aimed at contributing to the achievement of the sector outcomes.

In addition to the work being done in the areas of criminal justice, crime prevention and public law, the Ministry’s Statement of Intent includes the priorities of the Office of Treaty Settlements and Chief Electoral Office which are both key parts of the Ministry of Justice.

Key areas of work for the forthcoming financial year includes: ensuring communities are adequately protected from crime through a whole-of-government response that fits within the context of a comprehensive Crime Prevention Strategy ensuring justice sector agencies work together to achieve common objectives enhancing the structure and operations of courts modernising areas of family, commercial and medico-legal law to better reflect changing community needs and expectations making legal processes simpler to decrease justice costs and timeframes planning for the 2005 General Election, including investigation of voter technology and ways to reduce institutional barriers for voters continuing the process of negotiating fair and durable settlements that resolve historical grievances relating to the Treaty of Waitangi.

Note: A copy of the Ministry’s Statement of Intent is available on the web at http://www.justice.govt.nz

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