Agencies start work on Justice Info System

Government agencies, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), have inked an agreement that would lead to a unified National Justice Information System (NJIS).

DOJ Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy said 16 agencies had agreed to sign a memorandum of agreement for the creation of NJIS. The system aims to establish efficient data collection, allow timely detection of crime and resolution of investigations, and improve transparency and access to justice.

The consolidated system project will be divided into four phases.

Sy told reporters at the sidelines of the ceremony that it may take an undetermined amount of time before three other phases may be rolled out.

“Depending on the developments with the Phase 1, we can start with Phase 2. So that’s still open-ended—progress can be uneven,” he said.

DOJ Planning and Management Service Director Ma. Monica Pagunsan explained that Phase 1 of the consolidated system will be up within 10 months of the awarding of the contract on June.

This will cover the corrections cluster, composed of the DOJ’s Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) and Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), as well as the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Although it is currently being tested for implementation, Pagunsan said the system, which she called “Inmate Management Information System,” will enable “a seamless process of transfer of inmate records from the BJMP, BUCor, BPP, and PPA to prevent redundancy... [and ensure] timely release of inmates.”