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Strategy
Justice on Target (JOT) is the province's strategy to address criminal court delay, using an evidence-based approach to increase the effectiveness of Ontario's criminal courts. Launched in 2008, JOT is supporting local court leaders as they continue to identify, implement and sustain more effective practices.
As a result of the Justice on Target strategy, both the provincial average number of appearances and days needed to complete a criminal charge in Ontario have been reduced for the first time in two decades.
Introducing Benchmarks for Effective Criminal Courts
The Justice on Target strategy is building on its achievements by refining how progress is measured, moving from across-the-board reduction targets, to benchmarks that take into account a case's complexity.
The Justice on Target strategy benchmarks should not be considered a rule or legal standard. Rather, the benchmarks create a tool by which the province can measure progress. Not every case can or should meet the benchmarks. The chart below demonstrates current performance compared to the benchmarks.
Benchmarks* |
2011 Ontario's criminal courts met the benchmarks: |
2012 Ontario's criminal courts met the benchmarks: |
|
|---|---|---|---|
5 Appearances 90 Days |
62.3 % of the time 60.9 % of the time |
63.2% of the time 61.8% of the time |
|
10 Appearances 240 Days |
67.5 % of the time 67.0 % of the time |
67% of the time 67.7% of the time |
|
9 Appearances 180 Days |
63.2 % of the time 63.3 % of the time |
64.1% of the time 64.8% of the time |
The ultimate goal of the Justice on Target strategy is to promote continuous improvement in Ontario's criminal justice system by setting annual targets to meet the benchmarks. The chart below demonstrates the province's improvement goals for 2013, using statistics from 2011 as the baseline for comparison.
Benchmarks* |
2011 (Baseline) |
2013 (Target) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
5 Appearances 90 Days |
62.3 % of the time 60.9 % of the time |
+ 1.6% or 63.9% of the time + 1.4% or 62.4% of the time |
|
10 Appearances 240 Days |
67.5 % of the time 67.0 % of the time |
+ 1.3% or 68.8% of the time + 1.5% or 68.5% of the time |
|
9 Appearances 180 Days |
63.2 % of the time 63.3 % of the time |
+ 2.3% or 65.5% of the time + 2.5% or 65.8% of the time |
Local progress and local goals
The Justice on Target strategy's refined approach to measuring progress includes a goal for every criminal court site in the Ontario Court of Justice. Contact us for information about the progress or the goals for your local courthouse.
About the Benchmarks*
The benchmarks have been determined following consultations with justice participant groups. This data is "case-based" rather than charge-based. In order to aid in monitoring and measuring the impact of initiatives to reduce criminal court delay, some cases, such as those involving a bench warrant, have been removed. The benchmarks are intended to establish a goal for all participants in the criminal justice system, and for the public. However, they should not be considered as a rule or legal standard governing criminal court cases as each case is unique.
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