2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN Ministry of Attorney General

Ministry Goals,
Key Performance Measures
and Core Business Areas

Goals

1. Laws and justice services are administered fairly, equitably and efficiently to all British Columbians, while individual rights and judicial independence are protected.
2. Citizens and communities of British Columbia receive protection from crime and its social and economic consequences.
3. High-quality legal services are provided to government.
4. The treaty process achieves agreements, and the economic climate is enhanced through effective negotiations.
5. The efficiency of all ministry operations is improved through the use of innovative business practices and technology.

Key Performance Measures

The following key measures and targets inform the ministry’s goals and indicate overall justice system efficiency and progress toward its goals.¹ The first two measures also appear in the Government Strategic Plan for 2003/2004 – 2005/2006. Each core business area contains a number of strategies, secondary measures and targets that support and balance these key measures and targets.

Core Business Areas

The Ministry of Attorney General operates a number of core business areas in order to fulfill its mandate. The list below provides a brief description of these seven interrelated, yet — in the interest of fairness and impartiality — often independent, areas.

Court Services

This business area supports the operation of courts in the province, which are presided over by an independent judiciary. In its role as a servant of the court, this area provides and maintains the facilities in which court events take place and offers administrative services such as registry and trial support, prisoner custody and escort, and security measures. It is responsible for supporting operations in three levels of court — the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court — in a manner that recognizes and respects the independent nature of the judiciary.

Legal Services

Legal Services provides high-quality, cost-effective legal advice and representation to the Government of British Columbia. This includes advising the government on civil law matters, managing the government’s liability risks and costs, and working to reduce the cost of litigation through the use of technology and improved business practices.

Prosecution Services

This component of the justice system is responsible for the prosecution of Criminal Code and provincial statute offences. As governed by the Crown Counsel Act, prosecution services must be carried out diligently, objectively and fairly, without regard to undue influence or interference from any source. Prosecutorial responsibilities also include assessing and approving criminal charges, referring low-risk offenders to alternative measures programs, handling appeals and providing advice to government on all criminal law matters.

Justice Services

This business area is focused on improving access to justice. It offers services and develops and funds programs, all of which are designed to support parties in civil and family cases both inside and outside the courtroom. Through legal aid, it helps individuals who cannot afford legal counsel.

As well, this area is responsible for refining, and promoting the use of, a wide range of out-of-court options for resolving disputes. This business area frequently leads the development of reform initiatives that are intended to reduce the complexity and cost of the justice system and ultimately increase access to justice.

Executive and Support Services

This area is responsible for providing corporate services to the Ministry of Attorney General, the Treaty Negotiations Office and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Included among these services are financial and resource management, policy and legislation development, corporate planning and information technology development.

This area is often given responsibility for getting key ministry and government justice initiatives — or certain aspects of such initiatives — under way and developing them to a point where they can they be turned over to other areas of the ministry or to other agencies for further action. Services might also include developing policy or legislation to support priority initiatives.

Treaty Negotiations

This office negotiates and implements treaties and other agreements with First Nations. In doing so, legal certainty to the ownership and use of Crown lands and provincial resources is established, which contributes to economic stability.

Judiciary

Continued operation of the independent judiciary is supported through the Court Services Branch. With assistance from Court Services, the judiciary also develops specific projects such as the Provincial Court’s criminal case flow management process and rules, and the Supreme Court’s reforms for expedited case processing.