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Use of Robotic Process Automation in forensic routines

Virtual robots have been developed to simulate human interaction within the judicial processes of the Court of Justice of the State of Santa Catarina. The innovation involved the centralisation of services and tasks, which has relieved the workload of staff, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

Innovation Summary

Innovation Overview

Task execution processes are the biggest challenge facing the Brazilian Judiciary. As an solution to this challenge, algorithms were created to help with routine tasks, such as address search tasks, locating parts, interacting with value blocking systems, and inserting restrictions in vehicles, among others. Centralized automation blocks a large volume of backlogged tasks that were generally paralyzed due to a lack of staff. Automation was used in common acts such as address research, blocking and seizure of valuables, restrictions on vehicles, archiving of legal proceedings, research on deaths, issuing criminal fine slips, classifying petitions and drafting processes. The main objective of the project is to free up the human workforce to carry out more complex activities, which will result in faster jurisdictional delivery. Currently the automation is carried out on an institutional basis for all first-degree judicial units. As a measure for the future, the intention is to integrate these resources more broadly. Since this innovation was implemented, other state courts have used the source codes for replicating the process in their own units.

 

Innovation Description

What Makes Your Project Innovative?

Forensic activity has traditionally been bureaucratic. In the realm of physical processes, work adhered strictly to procedural and formal rites. However, with the integration of technology into the judicial context, initially as a support system and later as integral to complex judicial processes, significant changes have occurred. Now, many tasks that were once performed manually are being increasingly automated. These tasks, often involving lower complexity and requiring minimal oversight, can be effectively handled by algorithms. Examples include blocking and transferring values, searching for addresses of parties in external systems, and looking up death information, among others.

Centralised execution of these tasks by algorithms can achieve substantial efficiencies and cost savings. What previously required the efforts of numerous individuals can now be accomplished with minimal resources.

 

Innovation Development

Collaborations & Partnerships

The innovation process included the participation of judges and civil servants, who presented their ideas on possibilities for improving workflows, focusing on improvement and efficiency actions, especially in more bureaucratic routines and with an accumulation of work.

Users, Stakeholders & Beneficiaries

Judges and civil servants were impacted by the improvement of work processes, with greater speed in the execution of common tasks. The parties and lawyers were positively impacted by the increased speed in judicial delivery, since part of these procedures are aimed at locating people and assets.

Innovation Reflections

Results, Outcomes & Impacts

The automation processes carried out a total volume of 4,654,637 judicial acts, involving the issuance of certificates, gathering of documents, acts of subpoena, issuance of fine guides, acts of archiving and minutes of processes. If these tasks had been carried out in a traditional way, by a human, the total volume of this work would be the equivalent of 360,327 hours. Currently, the automation robots are equivalent to the work of 132.60 human task servers, working seven hours a day, for five days a week. If it were carried out by employees at the beginning of their careers, the total amount of expenses during this time would be R$ 12,904,113.04.

Challenges and Failures

The main challenges were gaining the trust of judges and civil servants, as users of the system, who were gradually reformulating their internal work processes, to make use of robots. The strategy for overcoming this problem was to work on a consistent and very well revised routine, in order to conclude that, if it were carried out by a human being, there would be even more execution errors. As a result, the automation processes gradually gained followers, today serving the entire state, in some cases, even in processes that are being processed in the second degree (appeals). Regarding failures, the process includes flows that can be stopped for eventual correction.

Conditions for Success

Successful innovation starts with recognising the necessity for change, focused on continuously improving work processes. Innovation requires challenging existing paradigms, essentially deconstructing certain concepts to introduce something that genuinely delivers benefits without violating essential legal principles. A robust technological infrastructure is crucial, particularly when establishing a centralised service model.

Replication

Several courts of law have shown interest in the innovation created, seeking insights into its implementation, development process, resource usage, and the human workforce dedicated to its maintenance. Looking ahead, it is evident that robotic process automation will further integrate these work routines, transforming simple actions into interconnected workflows across numerous systems and databases. This integration promises increased efficiency and reduced workload for operators, enabling them to deliver justice more effectively in the long run.

Lessons Learned

It is very important to be quick. The idea must be implemented, even if in an elementary way, in the shortest possible time. In our work, the judiciary is usually known for its slowness. Therefore, the development of automated flows, even if elementary, sometimes shortens the processing time.

Status:

Innovation provided by:

Date Published:

1 July 2024

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