Making the case for open justice data

In its report, ‘Open data in the justice system’, published last week, the Magistrates’ Association calls for an open, joined-up approach, where data is easy to find, information can be linked across the system, and publication is the default not the exception. It argues this would not only improve transparency and public trust but also strengthen evidence-based policymaking and make better use of public money.

While welcoming recent moves to increase ‘open justice’, such as allowing reporters into certain proceedings of the family court, the Magistrates’ Association highlights ‘severe limitations around the public provision of data’, in its report. For example, it notes that Dr Natalie Byrom, senior research fellow at UCL, gave evidence to the Justice Committee in January 2022 ‘that one third of questions asked in Parliament in 2020 could not be answered because the data was not held’.

David Ford, national chair of the Magistrates’ Association, said: ‘England and Wales already generate and publish large volumes of justice data, leading Europe in openness.

‘But this data is siloed and difficult to access for both the general public and policymakers who need it to make evidence-based decisions. Our report sets out a clear vision for a more open, joined-up approach to justice data.’

The Magistrates’ Association makes eight recommendations, including that Parliament create a presumption of publication for justice system data, ministers create an independent inspector to hold an annual review of data practices in the justice system, and for ‘data creators and publishers to adopt an open data approach to the collection, production and publication of data relating to the justice system’. It also calls on the Ministry of Justice and senior judiciary to promote a joined-up approach to data collection across the justice system.