The Justice Department has announced the launch of Access DOJ, a new initiative led by the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ). This initiative aims to enhance access to Justice Department programs and services through human-centered design.
“The Access DOJ Initiative will provide a path for us to make the Justice Department’s services more accessible, effective, and efficient at meeting the needs of the diverse communities we serve,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “It will ensure that the Department, for the first time, has a localized hub of expertise focused on assisting components broadly with human-centered design practices.”
The Access DOJ Initiative includes:
- Annually conducting high-impact projects in partnership with offices across the Justice Department.
- Providing resources, training, and hands-on coaching in methods like usability testing and writing with plain language.
- Chairing a newly launched community of practice with representatives from across the Justice Department.
“Access to Justice includes Access to the Department of Justice. In our public-facing materials, we must prioritize what makes sense for the people we serve, above technical nuances,” said ATJ Director Rachel Rossi. “This will require that lawyers and subject matter experts work with designers to get feedback from the public. We cannot be the judge of whether our materials are accessible and effective — only the people using our services can do that.”
In preparation for this launch, ATJ has partnered with various offices within the department to simplify access to programs and services using human-centered design practices. One such collaboration was with the Office of the Pardon Attorney to revise forms used by individuals requesting presidential pardons. The revisions were based on public feedback, usability testing, best practices in design, and access-to-justice research.
Additionally, ATJ worked with the Office of U.S. Trustees Program (USTP) on piloting virtual bankruptcy meetings. This involved gathering feedback from legal aid providers who work with low-income and rural communities. Plans include developing short videos explaining these meetings in plain language.
To mark its launch, ATJ hosted an event encouraging participation across the department. Remarks were delivered by officials including Director Steve Dettelbach of ATF, USTP Director Tara Twomey, and Deputy Pardon Attorney Kira Gillespie. External experts also discussed their work in human-centered design within other federal agencies.
Access DOJ's next project will focus on improving reporting portals across the department to facilitate crime reporting from all communities effectively.