Policy Brief Examines the Justice Gap and Budget-Based Justice Work

December 18, 2023December 18, 2023ajrn1 Leave a comment

A new policy brief examines how “access to justice for all will remain elusive unless justice experts begin to evaluate and address the fiscal dimensions of the justice gap”.

The “Justice Gap and the Budget Black Hole” policy brief examines the benefits of results-based budgeting models and performance-oriented budgets for connecting budgets to substantive social justice agendas. The policy brief highlights lessons from gender budgeting, human rights budgeting, equality and well-being budgeting, and green budgeting that could be helpful for justice budgeting. In considering the role of budgets in shaping social outcomes, it is important to look beyond traditional justice services, explore empirical research on what works to meet people’s justice needs, examine which populations are underserved by current investments, and look at how other disciplines and sectors promote or deny justice. The brief urges more data on public and private investment in justice services and the return and benefits of investing in justice.

“The Justice Gap and the Budget Black Hole: Promoting Justice for All through Budget-Based Work” was prepared by Gustavo Maurino. The policy brief was commissioned by Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.

To access the policy brief in English, please visit: https://cic.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Justice-Gap-and-the-Budget-Black-Hole-2023.pdf.

Access to Justice Organizations Collaborating on Person-Centred Justice, Change & Connection Workshop

December 14, 2023January 22, 2024ajrn1 Leave a comment

The Access to Justice Centre for Excellence at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law (ACE) and McGill University’s Faculty of Law in collaboration with the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice (CFCJ) and CREATE Justice at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law will be hosting a hybrid workshop on Person-Centred Justice, Change, and Connection at McGill University’s Faculty of Law from May 24-25, 2024 (the 2024 PCJ Workshop). Proposals are welcome from researchers, graduate students, and practitioners on themes related to access to justice and person-centred justice, including works and projects which challenge or expand understandings of the field through empirical, critical, or pluralistic lenses. The deadline to submit proposals is January 19, 2024.

The 2024 PCJ Workshop will build on the excellent discussions and scholarly exchanges that took place at the inaugural Person-Centred Justice workshop held at York University on May 29, 2023 and subsequent (forthcoming 2024) contributions to a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Law and Society on Person-Centred Justice. The workshop will be an opportunity to build connections between scholars, researchers, practitioners and other access to justice stakeholders across Canada; it will also facilitate the development of scholarly works for publication in journals that accept submissions on the themes of access to justice and person-centred justice such as the Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice (see submission guidelines). Finally, the 2024 PCJ Workshop will also support preparation for the upcoming International Access to Justice Forum to be held in Toronto in fall of 2024 in a friendly, collaborative and supportive atmosphere.

The 2024 PCJ Workshop will be held in a fully hybrid format, with a focus on virtual presenters on May 24th and in-person presenters on May 25th. Presenters will be arranged into panels based on themes that emerge from submissions to encourage new connections. In support of the 2024 PCJ Workshop, ACE and its partners are seeking the support of SSHRC through a Connections Grant. If ACE and its partners are successful in gaining Connections Grant funding, financial support will be available to:

Provide travel support funding for participants that express a need for funding to attend in- person, such as graduate students and practitioners – priority will be given to those who apply by January 10, 2024;
Provide simultaneous and documentary English/French translation to support bilingual proceedings at the 2024 PCJ Workshop; and
Provide guidance and support for the publication and dissemination of research through avenues such as blog posts, social media channels, and scholarly journals.

Those interested in submitting an abstract (maximum 250 words) are asked to fill out the following online form by January 19, 2024: English Version | Version française

Inquiries about the event can be directed to: kaitlyncumming@gmail.com

Download a copy of the Call for Proposals here: https://ajrn.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/call-for-proposals-appel-a-participation-2024-pcj-workshop.pdf.

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Appel à propositions
Atelier hybride sur la justice axée sur la personne, le changement et les connexions Faculté de droit de l’Université McGill | 24 et 25 mai 2024

Le Centre d’excellence pour l’accès à la justice de la Faculté de droit de l’Université de Victoria (ACE) et la Faculté de droit de l’Université McGill en collaboration avec le Forum canadien sur la justice civile (FCJC) et CREATE Justice du Collège de droit de l’Université de Saskatchewan, a le plaisir d’annoncer qu’il organisera un atelier hybride sur la justice axée sur la personne, le changement et les connexions à la Faculté de droit de l’Université McGill les 24 et 25 mai 2024 (l’atelier JAP 2024). Nous invitons les chercheuses et chercheurs, les étudiant·es aux cycles supérieurs et les praticien·ne·s à soumettre des propositions sur des thèmes liés à l’accès à la justice et à la justice axée sur la personne, y compris des travaux et des projets qui remettent en question ou élargissent la compréhension du domaine à l’aide d’approches empiriques, critiques ou pluralistes. La date limite de soumission des propositions est le 19 janvier 2024.

L’atelier JAP 2024 construira sur le fondement des excellentes discussions et des échanges scientifiques qui ont eu lieu lors de l’atelier inaugural sur la justice axée sur la personne qui s’est tenu à l’Université York le 29 mai 2023 et sur les contributions ultérieures (dont la publication est à venir en 2024) à un numéro spécial de la Revue canadienne droit et société portant sur la justice axée sur la personne. L’atelier sera l’occasion d’établir des liens entre les universitaires, les chercheuses et chercheurs, les praticien·ne·s et d’autres acteurs de l’accès à la justice de partout au Canada; il facilitera également l’élaboration de travaux universitaires destinés à être publiés dans des revues qui acceptent des articles sur les thèmes de l’accès à la justice et de la justice axée sur la personne, telles que le Recueil annuel de Windsor d’accès à la justice (voir leurs lignes directrices pour les soumissions). Enfin, l’atelier JAP 2024 soutiendra également, dans une atmosphère amicale, de collaboration et de soutien, les préparatifs en vue du Forum international sur l’accès à la justice qui se tiendra à Toronto en automne 2024.

L’atelier JAP 2024 se déroulera de façon entièrement hybride, avec un accent sur les présentateurs virtuels le 24 mai et sur les présentateurs en personne le 25 mai. Les présentateurs seront répartis en panels en fonction des thèmes qui émergeront des soumissions afin d’encourager de nouvelles connexions. Pour soutenir l’atelier JAP 2024, ACE et ses partenaires sollicitent présentement le soutien du CRSH par le biais d’une Subvention Connexion. Si ACE et ses partenaires réussissent à obtenir ce financement, un soutien financier sera disponible pour :

Fournir du financement pour les déplacements des participant·es qui en expriment le besoin pour assister à l’atelier en personne, tels que les étudiant·es aux cycles supérieurs et les praticien·ne·s – La priorité sera donnée à ceux qui auront déposé leur soumission avant le 10 janvier 2024;
Fournir une traduction simultanée et documentaire de l’anglais au français et vice-versa, afin de permettre que l’atelier JAP 2024 se déroule dans les deux langues; et
Fournir des conseils aux participant·es en soutenant la publication et la diffusion de la recherche par des moyens tels que des articles de blog, des médias sociaux et des revues académiques.

Les personnes intéressées à soumettre un résumé de leur contribution (250 mots maximum) sont priées de remplir le formulaire électronique suivant avant le 19 janvier 2024 : Version française | English Version

Les questions concernant l’événement peuvent être adressées à: kaitlyncumming@gmail.com

Report Provides Global Perspective on People-Centered Access to Justice Research

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023ajrn1 Leave a comment

The U.S.-based Justice Observatory has published a report examining the contexts for which people-centered justice research has been conducted in different jurisdictions, the data that is currently available, and the kinds of questions and contexts that are underexplored or unexplored.

The report explores country characteristics relevant to people’s justice experiences and includes insights from global informant interviews on context, knowledge gaps, and important findings in the people-centered justice research space. The report also includes information on relevant literature on people-centered justice.

People Centered Access to Justice Research: A Global Perspective by Rebecca L. Sandefur, Matthew Burnett and Julia Dos Santos Drummond is available online here: https://www.americanbarfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/People-Centered-Access-to-Justice-Research-A-Global-Perspective.pdf.

New American Bar Association Report Highlights Gaps in Access to Legal Assistance in Rural Areas

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023ajrn1 Leave a comment

The American Bar Association (ABA) recently published is fifth annual Profile of the Legal Profession report. The 2023 report marks the first time that the ABA report examines access to civil legal aid in the U.S.

Key findings in the 2023 Profile of the Legal Profession Report include the following:

There are more than 10,000 paid civil legal aid lawyers across the country, but significant differences exist among states and even within states.
Even accounting for differences in population and poverty rates, some states have many legal aid lawyers per 10,000 residents in poverty (for example, New York, Minnesota and Maine) and some have few (for example, Mississippi, Arizona and Georgia).
New York City alone has more than 1,000 paid legal aid lawyers — roughly one-tenth of the nation’s total, even though it has less than 3% of the nation’s population.
Rural towns and counties have roughly half the number of legal aid lawyers per capita than urbanized cities.

The report also provides insights on pro bono services, legal education, wages, demographics in the legal profession, judges, well-being, technology and women in the legal profession.

The 2023 American Bar Association Profile of the Legal Profession report is available online here: https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/news/2023/potlp-2023.pdf.

Alberta, Ontario Announce Steps to Enhance Access to Justice

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023ajrn1 Leave a comment

Alberta

On December 1^st, Alberta’s government announced a new Family Justice Strategy aimed at making it easier for Albertans to address family court matters. The news release indicates that, “the new Family Justice Strategy will help align services in both the Alberta Court of Justice and the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, so that Albertans can access the same types of services no matter which court they attend”.

The provincial government’s $5 million investment in the Family Justice Strategy will expand pre-court services in Edmonton and Calgary, including alternative dispute resolution, family court counsellors, and parenting interventions. In addition, the government is introducing a Family Resolution Hub online tool to provide information for Albertans dealing with family law matters.

Information about Alberta’s investment in increasing access to family justice services is available in English here: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=893927C5CE690-FFA2-A2F0-ACF90115EB8E62CE

Ontario

Ontario’s government is proposing new legislation which, if passed, would seek to make it easier for victims of crime to sue an offender for emotional distress, protect children and youth from cannabis, enhance community safety, and make court and government operations more efficient.

The Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 is among several legislative changes being proposed by the provincial government. Changes to the Courts of Justice Act and other statutes are aimed at improving court efficiencies and ensuring court, jury and administrative procedures and operations are clearer and more accessible.

The press release on the Ontario government’s Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 is available in English here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1003902/enhancing-access-to-justice-act-2023.

Information about the proposed Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 is available in French here: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/backgrounder/1003902/loi-de-2023-visant-a-ameliorer-lacces-a-la-justice.

Report on UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 Explores Power of Digitalization

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023ajrn1 Leave a comment

The goal of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 is to: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. A new report, published this month, explores the potential of digitalization to help create a more just, inclusive and sustainable world.

The SDG 16: Through a Digital Lens report seeks to examine the ways in which the move towards digitalization intersects with the pursuit of peace, justice and strong institutions. It highlights the importance of considering digital enablers, and outlines a vision for ensuring that digital transformation aids, rather than impedes, progress towards SDG 16.

Topics explored in the report include:

Universal connectivity and the digital divide
Legal identity
Illicit financial flows and their digital enablers
Impacts of online disinformation and misinformation
Perspectives on conflict in the digital space
Moving forward (digital social contracts, responsive and people-centred digital governance, other issues)

SDG 16: Through a Digital Lens was prepared by David Andersson for the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute. The report is available in English here: https://unicri.it/sites/default/files/2023-11/SDG%2016%20%20Report_web.pdf.

Ibero-American Alliance Publishes First Report on Access to Justice

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023ajrn1 Leave a comment

The Ibero-American Alliance brings together justice stakeholders from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and Andorra to support better people-centered justice in the Ibero-American region. Formally established in 2022, the alliance recently announced the publication of its first joint report. The Report on Access to Justice in Ibero-America provides important insights into the state of access to justice in Ibero-America and ongoing efforts within the region’s justice ecosystem to improve access to justice for all.

The report highlights work being carried out in three key areas:

Data and innovation;
An action plan and regional framework for access to justice;
Efforts to leave no one behind, including efforts aimed at helping women and girls, youth, the LGBTQI+ community, ethnic and religious minorities, migrants and refugees and others

The 2023 Report on Access to Justice in Ibero-America is available in English here: https://cic.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Report-on-Access-to-Justice-in-Ibero-America-2023-EN.pdf

The 2023 Report on Access to Justice in Ibero-America is available in Spanish here: https://cic.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Report-on-Access-to-Justice-in-Ibero-America-2023-ES.pdf.

Information for this post was gleaned from the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies website.

Australian Report Suggests National Legal Aid Program on the Brink of Collapse

November 27, 2023November 28, 2023ajrn1 Leave a comment

A new report prepared by Impact Economics and Policy for National Legal Aid (Australia) highlights funding and other challenges that have left the nation’s legal aid services in a state of crisis. According to the report, “Australia’s justice system is in crisis because people can’t access it, and the program designed to [e]nsure access is buckling under the weight of growing demand and shrinking supply.”

In 2014, a major report recommended an additional $200 million per year in funding for legal aid to address unmet legal need. The funding was not provided. Since the 2014 report, however, there has been a 3 per cent per capita cut in government funding for legal aid services. The result is that many, mostly disadvantaged groups in Australia lack adequate access to legal representation and services. Funding gaps are especially critical for matters related to civil and family law.

The cost of unresolved legal problems in Australia – including costs related to lost income, health impacts and seeking redress – is estimated to be between $11 billion and $66 billion in 2023. The compares to an estimated cost of $484 million to adequately fund Legal Aid in 2023. The annual estimated benefit derived from investing in Legal Aid is $639 million.

Justice on the Brink: Stronger Legal Aid for a Better Legal System is available online here: https://ajrn.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/0f02e-justiceonthebrink.pdf.