Vision

The Council sets as its vision: to contribute to a good functioning of judicial institutions, the judicial system and the judicial cooperation between countries.

Mission

The mission follows from the above. The Council expresses its mission as conducting independent, professional and objective inspections that result in the formulation of relevant, useful and practical reports.

Inspection Principles

The Council will work according to general inspection principles underlying both the activities of the Council and the expectations of the actors in the justice system regarding the way the Council should operate.

The following inspection principles are identified:

A. The principle of value addition

Inspection surveys should significantly contribute to the improvement of services of the inspected organizations and partnerships. This principle serves as the accompanying value in formulating the research focus, method of investigation, reporting and progress activities. This principle will entail that recommendations of the inspection surveys convey both the good and the faulty performances. When collecting data the aim should always be that the department concerned should be able to use the same information on which the research is based to perform progress measurement and implement improvements;

 

B. The principle of results orientation

The inspection surveys should primarily focus on community service rather than the internal management of the inspected organization. This implies that risks within the justice system that directly affect citizens are to be primarily examined;

 

C. The principle of user friendliness

The inspection surveys should focus on practical recommendations for both the internal organization of the department concerned as well as the end user;

 

D. The principle of proportionality

Inspection activities should be prioritized so that organizations that operate adequately are decreasingly less subject to inspection surveys;

 

E. The principle of the consistency

Research reports and particularly the research approach, findings and recommendations of the Council should, as much as possible be compiled in the same way in order to improve communication with the justice system and the public in general.

 

F. The principle of clarity

Quantitative and qualitative evidence of findings should always be validated and reliable;

 

G. The principle of openness

The criteria used for reports should be clear and recognizable to all. The Council should also be open about the method used. Complaints and concerns regarding inspection surveys are taken seriously by investigating or having them investigated and by reporting the results of such investigations to the complainant;

 

H. The principle of reciprocity

The Council will not issue its opinion unilaterally without granting the investigated organization the opportunity to check an investigation survey on factual accuracy and correctness.

 

I. The principle of cost consciousness

Inspection surveys are by definition costly work. By maintaining, amongst others things, a high level of research quality and the pursuit of cooperation with existing inspection and research faculties in the countries, the Council can demonstrate a cost effective procedure.

 

J. The principle of personal source protection

The Council processes its survey research without mentioning personal sources, unless consent has expressly been given to disclose such personal information in an investigation report.