Department for Constitutional Affairs
Aim
Ensure effective and accessible justice, protect the rights of citizens, and modernize the law and constitution
Objective I: ensure the effective delivery of justice.
1. Improve the delivery of justice by increasing the number of crimes for which an offender is brought to justice to 1.2 million by 2005-06; with an improvement in all CJS areas, a greater increase in the worst performing areas and a reduction in the proportion of ineffective trials. Target contributing to CJS PSA
Performance against target 1
2. Improve the level of public confidence in the Criminal Justice System, including increasing that of ethnic minority communities, and increasing year on year the satisfaction of victims and witnesses, whilst respecting the rights of defendants.Target contributing to CJS PSA
Performance against target 2
Objective II: ensure a fair and effective system of civil and administrative law.
3. Reduce the proportion of disputes which are resolved by resort to the courts.
Performance against target 3
4. Increase year on year the level of satisfaction of users by taking speedy, high quality decisions and reducing unnecessary delay and cost, and by ensuring that outcomes are enforced effectively.
Performance against target 4
5. Focus the asylum system on those genuinely fleeing persecution by taking speedy, high quality decisions and reducing significantly unfounded asylum claims, including by:
- fast turnaround of manifestly unfounded cases;
- ensuring by 2004 that 75% of substantive asylum applications are decided within 2 months and that a proportion (to be determined) including final appeal, are decided within 6 months; and
- enforcing the immigration laws more effectively by removing a greater proportion of failed asylum-seekers.
Joint target with the Home Office
Objective III: reduce social exclusion and protect the vulnerable.
6. Increase year on year the number of people who receive suitable assistance in priority areas of law involving fundamental rights or social exclusion.
Performance against target 6
Objective IV: modernise the constitution and ensure proper access to information by citizens.
Objective V: increase consumer choice in legal services by improving information and by promoting competition.
Objective VI: deliver justice in partnership with the independent judiciary.
Value for Money
7. Increase value for money from the Criminal Justice System by 3% per year, increasing efficiency by at least 2% a year, including the delivery of legal aid. target contributing to CJS PSA
Performance against target 7
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERY?
The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for the delivery of this PSA. The DCA's objectives and performance targets support those set out in the Criminal Justice System PSA, Chapter 22. The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs is, with the Home Secretary and Attorney General, jointly responsible for the delivery of these targets (numbers 1, 2 and the first part of 7 above). The Home Secretary is jointly responsible for delivering target 5.
Public Service Performance index