Online database to enhance court sentencing in Qld

Queensland courts are set to become even more efficient as judges, magistrates, prosecutors and defenders with online access to high-quality information on case law, legislation and other sentencing-related research material.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine and the Honourable Paul de Jersey, Chief Justice of Queensland, today launched the Queensland Sentencing Information Service (QSIS) at the Law Courts Complex in Brisbane.

The launch follows the Government’s commitment last year $2.6 million over four years to develop, maintain and expand the new database.

Mr Shine said QSIS was the latest example of the government’s commitment to ensuring court technology kept pace with the needs of the criminal justice system.

“Judges and magistrates base their sentencing decisions largely on the learned submissions of legal counsel for the prosecution and defence,” Mr Shine said.

“QSIS now provides easy access to a growing database of research material that will help counsel prepare their submissions and guide the courts in evaluating them.”

“It turns information into knowledge and delivers the double benefit of improved efficiency and enhanced decision-making.”

Mr Shine said the new database was already available to Queensland judges and magistrates, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Legal Aid Queensland.

“We are also looking forward to extending access more broadly as QSIS develops and matures over the next couple of years,” he said.

“This latest initiative builds on the excellent work already being done in equipping our courts with state-of-the-art technology such as wireless internet, closed-circuit television and digital audio recording.”

The Chief Justice said QSIS contained a rich collection of sentencing-related information linked together and supported by powerful search engines to assist users identify the most useful and relevant research material.

“This database is arguably the most significant development of recent years in streamlining the sentencing processes of the criminal justice system,” he said.

"It includes a complete set of state and federal legislation, as well as precedent case law from the High Court dating back to 1947 and the Queensland Court of Appeal from 2000.”

“The collection also includes the transcripts of sentencing remarks, which alone amount to more than 20 million words, as well as Practice Directions, Chief Magistrate Notes and a link to the Supreme and District Courts bench book.”

“QSIS will also enable important decisions and announcements to be circulated quickly and efficiently through a ‘Recent Law’ page.”

“Most importantly, the new database will ensure that everyone involved in the sentencing process has access to the same high-quality research material.”

“It will help our courts to deliver that fine balance between the interests of the community, victims, offenders and their families.”

QSIS has been developed in close collaboration with New South Wales, based on its highly successful Judicial Information Research System.

27 March 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Mr Shine’s office) 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350 kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au