Between 18-20 March, at least 50 hack-savvy individuals will take part in a MoJ ‘hackathon’ which it is hoped will uncover new software possibilities and ways to harness data within the justice system. Titled ‘Hacking justice: data in the dock’, the event has already proved immensely popular with data enthusiasts, with everyone from novice software developers to Royal Society mathematics fellows down to attend and a 20-strong waiting list.
Fostering creativity
The hackathon will set participants three key challenges: to enable courts to deliver justice more swiftly, to improve the rehabilitation of offenders, and to reduce risk to the legal aid fund. Software that could help flag fraudulent legal aid claims or predict the likelihood of an individual reoffending are just some examples of what could emerge.
The event will be led by MoJ Digital software developer Edward Andress, who believes that the hackathon may deliver not only new software capabilities, but also new opportunities for the MoJ’s ‘digital by default’ strategy.
‘The best-case scenario for any of these problems is that someone comes up with an idea that I couldn’t, or haven’t possibly thought of which is brilliant and makes us think about things in a totally different way,’ said Mr Andress.
Free labour?
‘Hackathons’ have become increasingly popular among private sector companies looking to shake-up digital innovation. In hosting its own hackathon, Mr Andress has needed to defend MoJ Digital against allegations that the government is soliciting free labour and expertise via a novelty event. Mr Andress maintains that participants in the three-day event are not being exploited, but rather are ‘signing up willingly because they are excited to get involved in projects which could have really positive impacts on people’s lives.’ Source: Legal Futures
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