Court Services - Quarter 4 Financial Update (2016)

Variance Analysis (in thousands of dollars)

Court Services operated at a deficit after indirect allocations of $250. The following factors have contributed to this deficit:

Compensation

The favourable variance of $161 is the result of managing vacancies through covering temporary positions at rates less than budgeted.

Operational & Supply

The favourable variance of $221 is the result of a decrease in the fourth quarter net revenue distribution payment to the local area municipalities due in part to a decrease in charges received; offset by an increase in Ministry of Attorney General related expenses.

Financial Expenditures

The unfavourable variance of $56 is a result of an increase in collections charges.

Other Revenue

The unfavourable variance of $650 is due to a decrease in charges filed and a decrease in prepaid fine payments received.

Community Impacts & Achievements

Achievements to date in 2016 include: improved case screening process for prosecutions; enhancements to the trial scheduling program; enhancements to the Court Administration Management System program; and work on the business continuity and emergency plans for courts.

Court Services has established performance measures in Administration, Collections and Prosecutions.

• Administration met their ten day turnaround time for appeals 65 per cent of the time. Staffing challenges in 2016 have contributed to the low percentage of time the service metric was met on appeals. Cross training of additional staff on this function will assist in reaching a better turnaround time on this metric.
• Collections reviewed the suspension list within the required timeframe 100 per cent of the time and provided payout statements within one business day 100 per cent of the time.
• Prosecution was able to provide disclosure within the established timelines 100 per cent of the time. There were zero charter applications in Q4.
• Voicemail messages were returned within one business day by Administration 95.8 per cent of the time; by Collections 100 percent of the time and by Prosecutions 100 per cent of the time.

Court Services will continue to monitor these measures to ensure that targets are met and improved where they are not currently being met.

Enhanced data collection to support new performance metrics and the more effective use of available courtroom time has resulted in the ability to identify earlier trial dates which has improved access to justice.