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SURVEYS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS

SURVEYS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS. 9 February 2007 Judge Christine Trenorden District Court of South Australia. Australian Surveys. Confidence in the Legal System. Australian Surveys. Confidence in Institutions.

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SURVEYS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS

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  1. SURVEYS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS 9 February 2007 Judge Christine TrenordenDistrict Court of South Australia

  2. Australian Surveys Confidence in the Legal System

  3. Australian Surveys Confidence in Institutions * courts and the legal system # SA Courts + The news media

  4. Courts Consulting the Community 2000 & 2006

  5. The Methodology The methodology

  6. During August - September 2006 1,003 interviews were conducted with South Australians aged 16+ in relation to the State’s Courts. This survey replicates that conducted in 2000 (1,000 interviews) • The statistical error margin for a random sample of 1,003 South Australians is approximately + or – 3% at the 95% confidence limit. • Telephone survey • Random selection (person who last had birthday)

  7. Profile of Respondents

  8. Profile of Respondents

  9. What was the main conclusion? What was the main conclusion?

  10. The primary conclusion from the research is the largely static perceptions of the South Australian Courts from 2000 to 2006. This was a time of notable change in the world around us – September 11, Iraq War, an increase in Internet usage and globalisation. It could be safely argued that we have changed dramatically as a society in how we view the world and our local community. With this in mind, it is quite amazing how little the views of the Courts have changed.

  11. Attitudes and opinions of the courts

  12. Confidence in ‘The Courts’

  13. State Courts move from 4th to 5th. State Government moves from 8th to 4th. (56%) (45%) (25%) (14%) (19%)

  14. (17%) (18%) (13%) (5%) (5%)

  15. Treatment of Groups Compared with Other South Australians

  16. Confidence

  17. Costs of going to Court 2006 2000 Lawyers 82% 86% Time off work 44% 40% Court costs 36% 40% Travel 22% 17% Fines/Penalties 12% 10% Emotional 12% 16% Child care 6% 5%

  18. Level of formality

  19. Knowledge, interest and communications

  20. Knowledge of the Courts

  21. How the Community Keeps Informed about the Courts

  22. Perceptions of the Courts

  23. Positive (strongly agree & agree)

  24. Negative (strongly agree & agree)

  25. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 • 1.5 days • 105 participants - 13 judicial officers - 17 court staff - 5 lawyers - 70 from the community • Expression of views about matters affecting community confidence in the Courts

  26. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 COMMUNITY INTEREST GROUPS • Government departments • Support agencies eg Victims of Crime • Women’s groups • Offenders’ aid groups • The media • Local government • Business • Schools • Youth • Older persons • Migrant groups • Aboriginal community

  27. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 • Focus on: • Maintenance and enhancement of public trust and confidence • Identify community expectations as to services provided • Group discussions • Plenary sessions

  28. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 CONCLUSIONS of Conference • Courts should: - inform - educate - improve level of service - improve facilities

  29. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2006 • 1 day • 38 participants - 6 senior judicial officers - 9 senior CAA staff - 23 community representatives (from CRG and CARG)

  30. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2006 CONCLUSIONS of Conference • Improve trust and confidence by: - reducing delays - partnerships with service groups - establish community liaison groups - education programs - providing information for users

  31. Responses to Survey and Consultation Conference

  32. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 RESPONSE BY THE COURTS • CAA Strategy 1 [Annual Report 2001] - Increase community understanding of court operations - Provide avenues for community feedback • Community Involvement Report in Annual Report • Incorporation of community relations into CAA Strategic Plan

  33. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY • Open Days • Education Roadshows and resources • Media forums • Website including Ask the judge • Mock sentencing exercises • Information stations/kiosks • Resources for SRLs • Justice roundtables • Community Reference Group • Courts Aboriginal Reference Committee

  34. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF USER NEEDS • Improved signage • Maps of courts available • Case list in daily newspaper • Video conferencing • Electronic filing • Building improvements • Legal advice clinic • Visits to indigenous communities • Community Reference Group • Courts Aboriginal Reference Committee

  35. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2000 • Community Involvement Plan The plan rests on three underlying themes, each with a strategy.   Theme 1: Enhance communication between the CAA and the community By: Engaging in two-way information exchanges with Court users and the community Theme 2: Promote a better understanding of sentencing in the community By: Explaining the sentencing process Theme 3: Enhance the public understanding of the justice system By: Adopting a pro-active role in explaining the concept of judicial independence and clarifying the various components of the justice system.

  36. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2006 RESPONSES – SURVEY METHODOLOGY • Survey restricted (landlines) • What % were court users? • Comments regarding particular courts? • Aboriginal representation • Different groups, different requirements

  37. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2006 RESPONSES – KNOWLEDGE & COMMUNICATION • Community expects Courts to provide • Different formats needed • Remove jargon • Improve website

  38. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2006 RESPONSES – PERCEPTIONS • Change perception – new strategies - avoid defensive approach • CAA needs greater insight (users) • physical environment • Language of courts • More education - courts-government relationship - restorative justice approaches - migrants

  39. Courts Consulting the Community Conference 2006 RESPONSES – SUGGESTIONS • Proactive staff (referrals) • Expand partnerships - agencies and service providers - website links • Review and expand information - expand website - more open days - newspaper article - forums for specific user groups - publicise new programs - facts sheets: court procedures • Consultative court user group • Community liaison committers (rural)

  40. Results of The Advertiser 2007 State of Justice Survey In-paper questionnaire appeared in The Advertiser On Saturday 13th January 2007 (pages 50 and 51) Conducted for The Advertiser Editorial Department Advertiser Newspapers Pty Limited Marketing Information Services Department January 2007

  41. On Saturday 13th January 2007, The Advertiser published a two page “State of Justice” survey to examine various law and order issues. The survey contained 45 questions covering a wide range of issues related to crime and punishment in South Australia. The survey was open to all South Australians to complete and mail back to us (no stamp was required). The questionnaire was a modified version of one developed by Laura Anderson and Victoria Shepherd from The Advertiser’s editorial dept for the January 2006 State of Justice survey in consultation with Phil Horwood from the marketing information services department. Questions were split into the categories of: ⇒ Your experiences ⇒ Police ⇒ Court system ⇒ Prison system ⇒ Gangs/Young Offenders ⇒ Security ⇒ Driving ⇒ Arson ⇒ and drugs. We received 3,552 mailed responses to this survey, which is quite good considering it was during the school holidays and when many South Australians were away from home. Although we received 3,552 completed surveys, the tight reporting timeframe only permitted a randomly selected sample of 2,000 of these to be data entered for the analysis that follows. Since in-paper surveys responses are most likely to come from older people, the final dataset was weighted by age, gender and area to ensure that these results better reflected the demographic composition of the South Australian population. Care must always be taken when interpreting the results of in-paper surveys. While it is an inexpensive and fun way to encourage reader involvement, the results are not necessarily representative of the views of all South Australians. In-paper surveys, like their phone-in and Internet counterparts used by television and radio stations, are based on a flawed methodology that relies on a “self-selected” sample. Respondents to this survey are limited to those people who read The Advertiser and are motivated enough to complete the survey and mail it in. Therefore, when discussing these results, make it clear that you are discussing the opinions of our respondents rather than South Australians (or our readers) in general. Introduction & Methodology Introductn & Methodology

  42. Q10. Do you think wealthy people receive a better outcome in our courts? • Yes: 78.8% • No: 11.9% • Don’t know: 8.3%

  43. Q15. Do you think the Government’s regular attacks on the justice system are undermining public confidence in it? • Yes: 49.6% • No: 39.8% • Don’t know: 15.7%

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