The Swiss Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPC) has officially abandoned its internal project to replace the JURIS case management system, following a total investment of 16.4 million francs. According to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Supervisory Authority (AS-MPC), the project—known as Core.Link—failed to meet its primary objective despite being active since 2016. While the MPC confirms the shift toward a market-based solution, it maintains that the project successfully delivered electronic file management capabilities that remain in use today.
Did You Know? The Core.Link project was initially launched under the “Joining Forces” program in 2016. By 2019, after a first phase deemed inconclusive, 1.5 million francs had already been spent on 1,800 days of development work conducted without a formal project mandate or defined budget.
Why the project stalled
The AS-MPC reported that the MPC failed to deliver a functional, full-scale management system within the deadlines and budget constraints set during the 2019 project reorientation. Although an agile development approach allowed for a “minimum viable product” to be deployed in 2022, the system could not handle the data volume required for complex economic crime cases. By the end of 2024, while Core.Link housed roughly 65% of active case files, it remained restricted to electronic document management rather than acting as the comprehensive case management tool intended to replace JURIS.
Financial and oversight challenges
Total expenditure for Core.Link reached 16.4 million francs, a figure that significantly exceeded earlier projections. In 2021, the MPC had estimated the total cost of the project would reach 7.8 million francs by the end of 2025. Between 2019 and 2024, development costs hit 11.9 million francs, supplemented by 3 million francs for external operational support. The AS-MPC noted that the project’s critical status was not effectively communicated to oversight bodies, and that the initial phase relied on external consultants without clear cost or time parameters.
Expert Insight: The transition from internal development to a market-based procurement process marks a significant shift in strategy for the MPC. By opting for a solution already available on the market, the institution is attempting to mitigate the risks associated with custom-built software, which previously led to cost overruns and technical limitations. The success of this new approach will likely hinge on the quality of the upcoming tender and the precision of the technical specifications required to replace a legacy system like JURIS.
The path toward a new system
The MPC is preparing an open tender process in accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations to acquire a replacement for JURIS. The institution aims to select a new system by the end of 2026, with an expected rollout in 2029. In the interim, the existing electronic file management portion of Core.Link will continue to operate and be adapted to facilitate data sharing with cantons. The AS-MPC has mandated the submission of quarterly reports as the MPC moves forward with this new acquisition strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the MPC stop developing Core.Link?
The MPC halted development because the system could not replace JURIS as a complete case management tool, particularly for complex cases involving large volumes of data, and failed to meet established budget and timeline targets.
What parts of Core.Link remain in use?
The institution continues to use the electronic file management component, which was successfully deployed in 2022 and currently covers approximately 65% of active procedures.
When will the new system be implemented?
The MPC plans to select a replacement system by the end of 2026, with full implementation scheduled to begin in 2029.
How do you think the shift toward market-based software procurement will impact the efficiency of federal legal operations in the coming years?
