Our vision, values and aims
Our vision is to promote a fair and effective criminal justice system, guided by values of independence, integrity, and accountability, with the aim of driving continuous improvement across justice agencies.
Our background
CJI is an independent, statutory Inspectorate created in 2003 to independently assess and improve the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system. It is an Non-Departmental Public Body in the person of the Chief Inspector who is a Corporation Sole.
CJI is one-of a-kind as it is the only unified Inspectorate within the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland that can look at all the agencies that make up the criminal justice system apart from the judiciary. We also inspect a number of other bodies with an investigatory, regulatory and prosecutorial role, that engage with the criminal justice system.
This means CJI is in a unique position to identify issues that are common to some or all organisations and is in a strong position to promote partnership working, inter-organisational learning and best practice across and between the various agencies and organisations.
Why was CJI established?
The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement reached in 1998 provided for a ‘wide ranging review of the criminal justice system to be carried out by the British Government through a mechanism with an independent element, in consultation with the political parties and others.
The criminal justice system refers to the organisations and processes that handle victims, witnesses, defendants, offenders, and young people who encounter or engage in criminal activity.
Many people feel disconnected from the system, often only interacting with one agency during challenging times, such as after becoming a victim of crime. As a result, public confidence tends to be shaped by personal experiences rather than overall system performance.
The aims of the criminal justice system were, the review said:
- To deliver a fair and impartial system of justice to the community.
- To be responsive to the communities concerns, and encourage community involvement where appropriate.
- To have the confidence of all parts of the community.
- To deliver justice efficiently and effectively.
The Criminal Justice Review which reported in 2000 noted ‘the importance of inspection as a tool for holding criminal justice agencies to account for their actions and the proper expenditure of public resources.’
It also noted ‘the views it heard in the course of the consultation process in relation to inspection. All those who commented on the issue believed that inspection of criminal justice functions was both necessary and desirable. There was some disagreement over whether individual agencies should have their own inspection arrangements or whether there should be a single, all embracing and independent criminal justice Inspectorate.’
The review concluded that in the political and institutional context of Northern Ireland envisaged by the Belfast Agreement, the balance of arguments favoured the creation of a single, independent criminal justice Inspectorate.
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