CGI and UX Consultancy partner Cogworx have supported HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to launch a new digital service that enables citizens to reply to a jury summons online.
Potential jurors in England and Wales can now confirm their availability, request a different date, or authorise someone else to respond for them online, meaning they no longer have to fill out and post cumbersome paper forms.
This marks another step forward in the modernisation of our courts system. The results of a pilot scheme showed almost a fifth (19%) of the 12,000 jurors who tested the system responded within seven days, compared to a mere one per cent when using the paper form to return their summons.
As well as making the process easier for jurors, the new system automatically uploads an accepted summons straight into online court systems, to save staff valuable time. HMCTS juror officers are reporting that with the new service, “fewer mistakes are made” and “the process is much faster than having to process via paper response”.
Justice Minister Lucy Frazer said; “It makes complete sense to move more of our court processes online to fit around our busy modern lives. This impressive new system is a great example of how we are making it quicker and easier for people to exercise their democratic duty.”
The Juror Digital scheme, the latest step in the Government’s £1bn reform programme, is designed to modernise the courts system and ensure it is fit for the 21st century.
Tara McGeehan, President of CGI in the UK said: “This has been an exciting project to help transform the court service. Our digital specialists have truly enjoyed working as part of a close and collaborative team to achieve a successful launch.”
The multi-disciplinary team from CGI, Cogworx and HMCTS developed the new system using agile techniques and conducted regular research with users in line with the Government Digital Service Standard. Particular attention was paid to ensuring the service is accessible for users reliant on assistive technologies such as screen readers as well as options for people who rely on others to complete government services online. The service includes the Government’s email and messaging service, Notify, which provides a cost effective and consistent approach to communications.
The full original press release is found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/click-to-accept-jury-service-in-an-instant?utm_medium=email&utm_source
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firm in the world. With 77,000 professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from IT and business consulting to systems integration, outsourcing services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organisations and accelerate results. With annual revenue of C$10.8 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com.
About Cogworx
Cogworx is a Small to Medium Enterprise(SME) UX consultancy specialising in designing digital products, user experience design and user research
About HMCTS (HM Court and Tribunal Service)
HMCTS is the authority with responsibility for the administration of Courts and Tribunals throughout England and Wales
For more information:
Paul Butler
External Communications Manager
p.butler@cgi.com
di: +44 (0)20 7632 767
