About
This engagement has closed for comment. Thanks for your interest and stay tuned for updates.
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We want your feedback on proposed changes that will allow greater use of electronic communications in the criminal justice sector.
What is being decided?
Whether you are sending an email at work, submitting forms online or downloading documents and information, communicating electronically is embedded in our everyday activities.
But sharing information and communicating electronically is still restricted within the criminal justice system. For example, the law currently requires some information and documents to be provided in hard copy and in person ratherContinue reading
About
This engagement has closed for comment. Thanks for your interest and stay tuned for updates.
---------------------------
We want your feedback on proposed changes that will allow greater use of electronic communications in the criminal justice sector.
What is being decided?
Whether you are sending an email at work, submitting forms online or downloading documents and information, communicating electronically is embedded in our everyday activities.
But sharing information and communicating electronically is still restricted within the criminal justice system. For example, the law currently requires some information and documents to be provided in hard copy and in person rather than electronically. These restrictions create obstacles and, in some cases, cause unnecessary delays.
The criminal justice system needs be able to keep up with society, and proactively anticipate future developments in electronic communications.
The draft Summary Procedure (Service) Amendment Bill 2016 and the draft Electronic Transactions (Criminal Proceedings) Amendment Bill 2016 propose changes to South Australia’s legislation that will allow the criminal justice sector to more easily use electronic communications in its day-to-day operations.
These reforms will increase efficiency for the sector and for the community by saving time and money, reducing delays and increasing accessibility.
Summary Procedure (Service) Amendment Bill 2016 (PDF, 72KB)
This Bill proposes changes to the Summary Procedure Act 1921, allowing prosecutors in criminal matters to provide preliminary examination documents to the Court and the defence using a wider variety of electronic methods. The proposed changes will apply to all documentation that is currently required to be provided under the Act. Read the Fact Sheet (PDF 648KB) for more information.
Electronic Transactions (Criminal Proceedings) Amendment Bill 2016 (PDF, 39KB)
The Government proposes changes to the Electronic Transactions Act 2000 and the Electronic Transactions Regulations 2002. The changes allow for the broader use of electronic communications in criminal proceedings, including witnessing and delivering documents. Read the Fact Sheet (PDF 876KB) for more information.
These changes are part of the South Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to criminal justice system reform, through the Transforming Criminal Justice initiative.
How can your input influence the decision?
The two draft Bills follow on from the release of the discussion paper Connecting the criminal justice system through information management in March 2016.
The Bills have been influenced by feedback on the discussion paper through consultation with the criminal justice sector and with the community through yourSAy.
We now seek your comments on the proposed changes outlined in the Bills. Your feedback will be taken into consideration in the finalisation of the Bills before they are submitted to Parliament.
Provide your feedback:
- Join the online discussion.
- Email your submission to: justicereform@sa.gov.au.
- Mail your submission to: Justice Sector Reform, Office of the Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department, GPO Box 464, Adelaide SA, 5000.
You can also receive updates on the Bills by signing up to the Transforming Criminal Justice mailing list. Simply email justicereform@sa.gov.au with a request to be added to the list.
Want to know more?
Background
The management of information is an aspect of the criminal justice system that needs immediate focus. As society progresses and citizens increasingly access information in different ways and across multiple devices, there is a community expectation that the criminal justice system should keep up. Equally, efficiency should be created within organisations by employing contemporary practices so that time and resources can be better utilised.
What is electronic communication?
An electronic communication is the transmission of a message or information using an electronic device such as a computer, mobile device or fax machine.
Examples include:
- sending an email
- sending a fax
- lodging a form through a website
- sending someone a document attached to an email, or through an online drop box.
