Assessment on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Accelerating Justice Delivery

Abstract

The aim of this research was to assess the role of traditional ICT in accelerating justice delivery in Zanzibar judiciary specifically in the course of case proceeding, the research started by evaluating the current use of ICT in study area, determining the adequacy of existing ICT infrastructure and explore the awareness of judicial staff on the advantage of AI in relation to court operation. Furthermore, the study explored the contribution of AI on improving case proceeding delay by considering specific recommendation. The researcher utilized descriptive research methodology which employed both qualitative and quantitative method to investigate our independent variables. A sample of 65 judicial staffs were involved in this study where by 48 respondents from Unguja and 17 from Pemba the questionnaire, document review, and interview were the methods used to collect the data. The recorded data was then analyzed using SPSS and thematic analysis. The findings noted various judiciary staffs using ICT in different activities such as typing proceeding, electronic office application, CMS, e-payment and other staffs were used computer for their specific functions. Moreover, the results of the findings explored the adequacy of existing ICT infrastructure at the Judiciary of Zanzibar is good in terms of Internet Service Provider, network server. However, the findings further revealed that, the few number of ICT staffs performed daily computer maintenance and troubleshooting affect effective participation in computer maintenance activity. Moreover, the findings indicated that high percentage of judiciary staffs understand ideally about AI and agreed that speech to text techniques can bring solution to minimize case proceeding and among those who have good awareness of AI they also mentioned other advantages of AI in relation to court operation. And finally the study recommends that, Ministry of education and vocational training in collaboration with vocational Training Institutions should register many students for AI training. Also Ministry of Labor, Economic Empowerment and Cooperative should provide special training to government officer on how to adopt with AI