Effective administration of justice is a crucial base for any state respecting the law. The government has undertaken a series of important initiatives aimed at the judiciary reform. As promised, the positions of the Minister of Justice and General Public Prosecutor have been separated, which has cleared the Public Prosecutor’s Office of any suspicions (circulating for a few years) in regard to its actions being influenced by the politicians. More money has been allocated within the system, judges and prosecutors have benefited from very attractive salary raises, and penalties for criminals have been sharpened significantly. The judiciary reform and court procedure informatisation have improved work conditions in courts. The government has also introduced significant changes into the prison system and called into being a professional institution responsible for educating justice administration staff, namely the Polish National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution.
Depoliticisation of the Prosecutor’s Office
It was a priority of the present government to free the Prosecutor’s Office from the possible political influence. In March 2010 – as a result of amending the act on the Prosecutor’s Office - the positions of the General Public Prosecutor and Minister of Justice were separated. Therefore, the full independence of prosecutors has been guaranteed. A strong, impartial position of the General Public Prosecutor, appointed for a 6 year term, has been secured as well. The National Prosecution Council supervises the constitutional position and imparity of the Prosecutor’s Office.
IT Revolution
E-court was launched in January, 2010. This modern form of conducting cases has relieved the traditional courts and
reduced proceeding costs. Almost 870 thousand cases were submitted to the e-court via Internet until March 2011, out of which almost 780 thousand have already been adjudicated upon.
The Internet access to land and mortgage registers has been made possible since June 2010. The citizens may look into the registers or make copies of their fragments without leaving their homes. Over 100 thousand people used the system on the first day it had become operational.
Thanks to the amendment of the Civil Code, approved by the government, cases are soon going to be recorded by means of the so-called electronic protocol (recording of sound and picture from the court room). As a replacement of the traditional written protocol, it will make court proceedings more efficient and shorten trials. It will also ensure better quality of information regarding the course of proceedings. Similar solutions will be also introduced in criminal cases.
Internet access to the documents kept in the National Court Register is another turning point of the justice administration informatisation. The parliament is working on the government's project. In addition, the NCR documents in the electronic form will be as binding as any official documents. Such a solution will make it easier for entrepreneurs to settle their cases without having to go to the court and wait in long lines.
In autumn 2010, the government amended the Company Law Code so that it becomes possible to register limited liability companies online. Such a registration should take no more than 24 hours.
Quicker Court Proceedings
In 2009, Polish courts received over 11 million cases, i.e. 6.1% more than the year before. The number of outstanding cases dropped by 10.7% in comparison with 2008, but the effectiveness, fastness, and quality of the judicial administration work still do not live up to the social needs and expectations. Changes in court management must be introduced. The government passed an amendment to the act “Law of the general courts system”, which streamlines the functioning of courts and improves services provided to the citizens. A managerial governance system will be implemented. Court directors will become responsible for ensuring conditions necessary for the judges to perform their duties, while court presidents will focus on managing the adjudication matters.
Electronic Surveillance System
In September 2009, the government began introducing the system of electronic surveillance of sentenced persons. As of 31 December 2010, the system was working in the following appellate jurisdictions: Białystok, Cracow, Lublin, Warsaw. The electronic surveillance was applied to 590 convicts out of whom 403 are still serving their terms and 187 have been released. Following the extension completed in January 2011, up to 4000 convicts may be covered by the system. It can be deployed in new appellate jurisdictions: Poznań, Gdańsk, Rzeszów, and the District Court in Łódź. The last phase of the system development will be completed by the end of this year. It will be possible to apply electronic surveillance to 7500 convicted persons all over Poland.
Prison System Reform
August 2010 saw the implementation of laws adapting the Prison Service to standards applicable in the other uniformed forces. The rules of coercion and firearms being used by the Prison Service have been specified. Officers staying in direct touch with prisoners have been granted additional benefits, such as a 50% bonus to the basic salary. A new social packet for this service has also been introduced.
Depoliticisation of the Prosecutor’s Office
It was a priority of the present government to free the Prosecutor’s Office from the possible political influence. In March 2010 – as a result of amending the act on the Prosecutor’s Office - the positions of the General Public Prosecutor and Minister of Justice were separated. Therefore, the full independence of prosecutors has been guaranteed. A strong, impartial position of the General Public Prosecutor, appointed for a 6 year term, has been secured as well. The National Prosecution Council supervises the constitutional position and imparity of the Prosecutor’s Office.
IT Revolution
E-court was launched in January, 2010. This modern form of conducting cases has relieved the traditional courts and
reduced proceeding costs. Almost 870 thousand cases were submitted to the e-court via Internet until March 2011, out of which almost 780 thousand have already been adjudicated upon.
The Internet access to land and mortgage registers has been made possible since June 2010. The citizens may look into the registers or make copies of their fragments without leaving their homes. Over 100 thousand people used the system on the first day it had become operational.
Thanks to the amendment of the Civil Code, approved by the government, cases are soon going to be recorded by means of the so-called electronic protocol (recording of sound and picture from the court room). As a replacement of the traditional written protocol, it will make court proceedings more efficient and shorten trials. It will also ensure better quality of information regarding the course of proceedings. Similar solutions will be also introduced in criminal cases.
Internet access to the documents kept in the National Court Register is another turning point of the justice administration informatisation. The parliament is working on the government's project. In addition, the NCR documents in the electronic form will be as binding as any official documents. Such a solution will make it easier for entrepreneurs to settle their cases without having to go to the court and wait in long lines.
In autumn 2010, the government amended the Company Law Code so that it becomes possible to register limited liability companies online. Such a registration should take no more than 24 hours.
Quicker Court Proceedings
In 2009, Polish courts received over 11 million cases, i.e. 6.1% more than the year before. The number of outstanding cases dropped by 10.7% in comparison with 2008, but the effectiveness, fastness, and quality of the judicial administration work still do not live up to the social needs and expectations. Changes in court management must be introduced. The government passed an amendment to the act “Law of the general courts system”, which streamlines the functioning of courts and improves services provided to the citizens. A managerial governance system will be implemented. Court directors will become responsible for ensuring conditions necessary for the judges to perform their duties, while court presidents will focus on managing the adjudication matters.
Electronic Surveillance System
In September 2009, the government began introducing the system of electronic surveillance of sentenced persons. As of 31 December 2010, the system was working in the following appellate jurisdictions: Białystok, Cracow, Lublin, Warsaw. The electronic surveillance was applied to 590 convicts out of whom 403 are still serving their terms and 187 have been released. Following the extension completed in January 2011, up to 4000 convicts may be covered by the system. It can be deployed in new appellate jurisdictions: Poznań, Gdańsk, Rzeszów, and the District Court in Łódź. The last phase of the system development will be completed by the end of this year. It will be possible to apply electronic surveillance to 7500 convicted persons all over Poland.
Prison System Reform
August 2010 saw the implementation of laws adapting the Prison Service to standards applicable in the other uniformed forces. The rules of coercion and firearms being used by the Prison Service have been specified. Officers staying in direct touch with prisoners have been granted additional benefits, such as a 50% bonus to the basic salary. A new social packet for this service has also been introduced.