Charging for Justice

This report investigates how governments fund justice and then proceeds to the financial models behind the justice services upon which many people depend: courts, informal justice, services by lawyers and other legal services.We find that justice services struggle to serve people seeking access to justice and to make ends meet financially. Data suggest unmet demand and also indicate that people are willing to pay for preventing or resolving justice problems, either as taxpayers or as a fee for service. But the access to justice sector is not attracting substantial investments yet. The report explores how smart fee systems and subsidies can be combined into sustainable financial models. Better regulation of justice services is needed to improve sustainability. Key for attracting investments (public or private) is a sustainable and growing revenue stream from justice outcomes that are valued by citizens and can be quantified and monitored. We look at how other sectors have developed new regulation models, stimulated innovation and public-private partnerships that are financially sustainable. We apply these insights to the funding of four potential game-changing justice services. In the final chapter, we explore a pathway towards a better financial future for the justice sector that is sensitive to justice sector politics.