Global Justice Reference Architecture (JRA)

JRA Mission: To enhance justice and public safety through a service-oriented approach to information sharing. We accomplish this mission by providing a reference architecture with guidance for identifying, defining, implementing, and governing services.
 

The Global Justice Reference Architecture (JRA) is an information exchange solution designed to cut 80 percent of implementation time and costs for state and local justice agencies through reuse of established promising practices in IT architecture and design.
 

Efforts to develop a reusable information sharing solution specific to the justice domain began in the Global Infrastructure/Standards Working Group (GISWG), specifically the Services Task Team (STT), with leadership from Thomas Clarke and James Douglas. Today, the STT serves two functions: 1) the creation of new Reference Service Specifications to provide the opportunity for reuse in the field, and 2) review of JRA implementations that have the potential for reuse by other agencies. Additionally, the STT recently identified the most critical information exchange priorities for the national justice community through the input of representatives across the justice domain, publishing the results in the Priorities Definition Workshop Summary Report.

 

Global JRA Services in Further Detail

The Global Infrastructure/Standards Working Group (GISWG) has authored the working draft document titled Global Justice Reference Architecture Services to describe in detail Global JRA services, Service Specification Packages (SSPs), and the Services Task Team (STT). This information is meant to help current and potential users better understand JRA and its components.

 

JRA Components

The JRA addresses various areas in the implementation of information exchange. Together, these areas form critical components of a comprehensive, replicable, and scalable solution to information sharing that balances varied technologies with dynamic policy considerations:
 

• Reference Architecture Planning
  The Global JRA includes recommendations for technical implementation that leverage Service Oriented Architecture concepts, customized for the justice domain. JRA addresses the full range of information sharing use cases by providing a flexible blueprint for implementing interoperable data sharing services across both technologically advanced organizations and those with limited technology resources. Guidelines for beginning implementation projects are available below.
   
• Service Specification Packages
  JRA solutions to information exchange are made up of a combination of the connection method (often Web Services), the exchange language (use of NIEM is encouraged), and the security specifications (encryption at the transport layer, data layer, etc.). These specifications are packaged into a JRA solution that can be customized to meet an individual organization’s needs. A repository of Reference Service Specification Packages (SSPs) for information exchange in the justice community is being established; however, individual Reference SSPs are available below in the interim.
   
• Technical Implementation Guidance
  Integrating a Reference Service Specifications Package (SSP) into existing IT infrastructure, despite the level of customization available in a Reference SSP, can involve a learning curve for those new to the implementation of JRA. Technical guidance regarding the JRA specification itself, as well as various guides on the interaction of different services and other aspects of information exchange, are available below. In addition, personal assistance in implementing JRA is available through a number of valuable resources. See the Implementation Assistance section for more information.
   
• Policy Guidance
  In coordination with the technical implementation of a JRA Reference Service Specification Package, policy-level documents guide interaction between the agencies exchanging information. Examples include Service Level Agreements (SLA), access and identity management specifications, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and many others. While these documents are never specific to JRA implementations, some specific resources available below may be helpful in policy agreements.