The Judicial Service Model is a process management modality that integrates the courts and documentary sources of justice, in addition to guaranteeing service during and after the emergency situation.
SANTO DOMINGO (DR) - The Judicial Branch announced on Wednesday the Judicial Service Model, a technological transformation project that seeks to digitalize all the processes and document bases of the justice system and that serves as support for the service continuity plan in situations such as COVID-19.
During the virtual presentation, the speakers of this State Power explained that it is a platform that integrates people, functions, rules and processes in order to provide society with greater access, speed, transparency and security in the procedures.
With the Judicial Service, files will be processed digitally from the moment they enter the justice system until the notification of rulings.
"We are moving towards paperless justice, so that physical files will gradually decrease," explained Judge Leonardo Recio Tineo, member of the Judicial Power Council, during the webinar "Presentation of the continuity of service plan for the administration of justice: judicial service model".
In this video conference, organized by the National School of the Judiciary, jurists such as Fabiola Medina, José Alfredo Rizek and Dilia Leticia Jorge praised the contributions of this initiative as a necessary step forward in the administration of justice. Justice Jorge Subero Isa, former president of the Supreme Court of Justice, also predicted success for the proposal.
The judicial authorities explained that the justice system has been able to react quickly to the national emergency caused by COVID-19, providing efficient solutions to the social isolation, and is preparing to develop in the shortest possible time the digitalization of the service, which was planned to be developed in five years of work, as part of the strategic plan Vision Justice 20/24.
The Judicial Service represents a challenge, since at present, a diversity of computer applications coexist in the Judicial Branch that are not integrated, making the exchange of information and the processing of statistics generated by the system and the delivery of remote services difficult, explained Melisa Bretón, head of the General Technical Directorate, during the presentation.
The transformation proposal, which will integrate document management and electronic notifications, has already been presented to all judges of this branch of government, to the entity's support bodies, to the national legal community and continues its socialization with key players at the national level.
Digital records and virtual management
The judicial service begins in any court of the country, both physically and virtually, with the reception of the file, explained Dr. Helder Tavárez, consultant of the Judicial Power.
He added that the creation of the Central Archive of the Judiciary is necessary to concentrate the active files housed individually in more than 600 courts scattered in 218 judicial offices nationwide.
When the file enters the ruling stage, the judges will issue their decision in a non-presential manner, thanks to the introduction of the electronic signature. The system will also generate notifications for registered users.
In those matters and types of cases where service by bailiff is mandatory, the addressee will be able to check the paper copy against the original digital document by means of a verification web page.
This modality is expected to develop without the need for new laws, the consultant explained, although once practice transforms reality, legal reforms may be necessary.
