[{"bbox": [97, 153, 1134, 206], "category": "Text", "text": "work shoulder to shoulder in bringing such cases to successful conclusion (including through implementation of Active Case Management (ACM) and case management)."}, {"bbox": [97, 217, 1134, 324], "category": "Text", "text": "Compromised integrity within the justice system's institutions has also undermined anti-corruption efforts. The action will thus pay attention to promoting integrity and accountability within relevant institutions to increase public trust in criminal justice systems and hence enhance the capacity of the relevant institutions to investigate and prosecute corruption cases."}, {"bbox": [97, 336, 1134, 443], "category": "Text", "text": "Prisons remain overcrowded despite great efforts to address the problem. This issue is primarily caused by the limited use of bail and reliance on pre-trial detention and custodial sentences – all of which are compounded by an under-resourced PACS that is required to play a role in both assisting courts to determine bail and in monitoring the implementation of non-custodial orders."}, {"bbox": [97, 454, 1134, 668], "category": "Text", "text": "The uptake of automation to support criminal justice processes has been slow and uncoordinated. Accordingly, the solutions provided will be aimed at resolving bottlenecks in terms of case flow (such as transferring files from the police to ODPP). Thus, it is critical that NCAA plays a greater role in facilitating and coordinating automation. The benefits of the use of technology and the need for coordination became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic which pushed the Judiciary to accelerate its automation efforts in order keep the justice system functioning. For instance, matters where heard virtually and an e-filing portal, wherein litigants can file their pleadings and make e-payment of court fees and fines, was launched. Overall, it is foreseen that the continued uptake of digitisation will allow for considerable efficiency gains and improved access to justice for the citizens in the coming years."}, {"bbox": [97, 679, 1134, 813], "category": "Text", "text": "Prison management has improved over the past years through the development of risk and needs assessment tools. Nonetheless, there is still a great need to strengthen rehabilitative programmes and to support measures aimed at early release so that eligible prisoners can be discharged when considered suitable for early release. Also, it is of pivotal importance to incorporate a gender and disability (especially regard to mental health, intellectual disabilities) dimension into the design and implementation of such programmes."}, {"bbox": [97, 825, 1134, 930], "category": "Text", "text": "Over the years, the child justice framework has gone through gradual reform by moving away the focus from retributive justice to restorative justice. The move to greater use of non-custodial penalties is in line with this development and in conformity with the internationally recognised principle that institutionalisation should be a measure of last resort."}, {"bbox": [97, 942, 1134, 1050], "category": "Text", "text": "Witness protection is still a relatively new and underutilised field in Kenya. The Witness Protection Agency (WPA) has been attempting to build its capacity and learn from the experiences of similar agencies in the region. Still, it requires further assistance in developing a management framework and establishing organisational and operational policies in line with international standards."}, {"bbox": [97, 1061, 1134, 1196], "category": "Text", "text": "Alternative Justice is widely practised, including in criminal cases, and dominant within some areas. Associated to the wider set of reforms, such as decriminalisation of petty offences, unlocking the full potential of Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) is critical to resolve the case backlog of courts, reduce overcrowding of the prison system and enhance citizens' access to justice. Specific challenges, such as gender and protection of the vulnerable and marginalized, must be addressed as AJS is mainstreamed to serve as part of the broader justice system."}, {"bbox": [97, 1207, 1134, 1394], "category": "Text", "text": "The 2010 Constitution imposes a duty on the State to provide accused persons with legal counsel in circumstances where substantial injustice might occur. Parliament enacted the Legal Aid Act of 2016, which provided the provisions and institutional framework for legal aid. The Act established the National Legal Aid Service (NLAS) to administer a state-backed legal aid scheme and regulate legal aid service providers. However, there is still a gap in terms of access to justice by the citizens, particularly amongst the most vulnerable groups, such as women with disabilities, in society – hence it is necessary to accelerate support to legal aid providers and interventions aimed at facilitating their work."}, {"bbox": [97, 1405, 1134, 1619], "category": "Text", "text": "UNCAC recognizes the important role of civil society in combating corruption, by pushing governments to increase transparency, improve public access to information and promoting public contribution to government decision-making processes. In sum, the improve governance and monitor areas where corruption is likely to take place – supporting robust and active Kenyan civil society would thus greatly facilitate the action objectives' – it would be especially useful to make proficient use of inclusive and accessible technologies to facilitate civil society organization to play such roles. In the area of access to justice this was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when justice services were disrupted and efforts were made to turn to virtual proceedings, which created a challenge for the poor and marginalized, CSOs supported by the UNDP-led initiative Amkeni Wakenya through"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 9 of 33"}]