Office of Jury Commissioner

This is a Massachusetts State Auditor performance audit of the Office of Jury Commissioner, covering July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015.

“This report details the audit objectives, scope, methodology, findings, and recommendations for the audit period, July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015.”

Auditors looked at whether the jury office properly handled accurate juror information and checked whether it fixed problems from an earlier audit.

“The audit was undertaken to determine whether OJC properly administered its process for developing, maintaining, and disseminating accurate juror information.”

The office helps run jury service across Massachusetts, so problems with its software contracts or system security can affect court operations and sensitive data.

“OJC is the judicial-branch agency responsible for the random selection of potential jurors and the management and summoning of all trial and grand jurors in the Commonwealth.”

If you may be called for jury duty, this office manages the summons process, juror information, postponements, disqualifications, and online juror services.

“This website allows prospective jurors to confirm or postpone their service, request a hardship transfer or disqualification, complete a demographic survey, update their contact information, and complete and print confidential juror questionnaires.”

The auditor found two remaining issues: the office needed better invoice detail from a software consultant, and it needed stronger password controls for its main jury software.

“OJC had implemented some recommendations from our previous audit, but still needed to enhance its monitoring of the services provided by one of its consultants and did not receive sufficiently detailed invoices for this purpose.”

The report recommends that the jury office require clearer contractor invoices and finish strengthening password rules in its jury software.

“OJC should continue to work on establishing enhanced password security controls in this software.”

The main risk is practical: without better contractor records and password controls, the office may have less assurance that money was spent properly and that sensitive jury data is protected.

“Insufficient control practices for password administration and composition procedures place OJC at increased risk for unauthorized access to sensitive data on its mission-critical applications.”

OJC means the Office of Jury Commissioner, the state judicial-branch office that manages how jurors are selected, summoned, and tracked.

“The Office of Jury Commissioner (OJC) is authorized by Chapter 234A of the Massachusetts General Laws to manage selection and service of jurors on trial juries and grand juries for the Trial Court.”