Evaluation of the Criminal Justice Support Unit CJSU in Manurewa

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Evaluation of the Criminal Justice Support Unit
(CJSU) in Manurewa

• Author Lisa McCauley, Senior Evaluator, OAG
• Presenters Alison Chetwin, Manager Evaluation
  Martin Bailey, CJSU Project Manager

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Reasons for the trial

• Concern about workload pressures on staff
• Anecdotal feedback indicated that staff spent
  between 40 70 of their time on file
  preparation
• Poor file quality inaccurate and incomplete
• Failure to deliver files to PPS with adequate
  time to prepare

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Aims of the CJSU

• Short-term reduce time spent on prosecution
  files improve quality, accuracy and timeliness
  of files
• Medium-term increase proactive policing
  improve co-ordination and management of files
• Long-term improve prosecution outcomes improve
  Police file management systems and bring about
  wider organisational change influence partner
  agencies to adopt changes to the file management
  process

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Overview of changes to the management of
prosecution files
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Evaluation approach

• Process evaluation focus on development,
  implementation, and operational effectiveness
• Collected a range of qualitative and quantitative
  data
• Interviews with CJSU staff, Manurewa Area
  management, district and national PPS staff,
  Crown Solicitors Office and Ministry of Justice
  staff
• Survey of general duties staff
• Activity Management System (AMS) data
• CJSU case tracker data
• Police apprehension statistics

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Evaluation findings

• Strong internal and external support - prevailing
  view is that CJSU is a worthwhile initiative
• Section staff reported a 25 30 reduction of
  time spent on file preparation
• Marked improvement in the quality, accuracy and
  timeliness of prosecution files
• Improved quality of information in notebooks and
  statements as a result of training by CJSU, and
  additional notebook and interviewing training
• Improved management and coordination of files,
  aided by Case Tracker
• Increased opportunities for targeted tasking and
  deployment, with increased proactive work
• Staff report feeling less stressed and improved
  morale
• A 32 increase in apprehensions (although there
  were also increases in apprehensions in other
  Counties Manukau areas)

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Perceived benefits of CJSU

• Improved quality, accuracy and timeliness of
  files
• Files sent to PPS in advance, so more time to
  prepare
• CJSU staff were seen as skilled, experienced and
  credible, and able to provide mentoring and
  training for frontline staff
• Frontline staff have more time to undertake
  proactive activities
• CJSU acted as point of coordination between
  frontline and PPS
• Improved service for external partners as a
  result of early disclosure

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Perceived risks

• Officers may lose understanding of the
  prosecution process and become deskilled
• Officers may be less inclined to take ownership
  and responsibility for files
• Potential loss of detailed knowledge if officers
  do not stay involved with a file
• Potential for confusion around decision-making
• Staffing and resource implications
• However, the majority felt that the concerns were
  outweighed by the potential benefits

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Essential elements of CJSU

• Strong foundations
• Experienced and skilled staff
• Mentoring and training
• Communication
• Strong leadership
• Data gathering

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What has happened since the trial?

• Formation of National CJSU Steering Group and
  Project Team
• Identification of three Proof Of Concept sites
  and ongoing evaluation of them
• Development of Training Packages and ongoing
  standardisation of working practices
• Integration into National Case Management Process
• Continuing to develop strong Criminal Justice
  partner relationships

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• Discussions Questions