Re-Entry Bonding
Modernizing the process of submitting a bond request to Virginia Department of Corrections.
Focus *User Research *Information Architecture *Wireframing *Prototyping
Collaboration *Users *Management *Project Managers *Developers
The Challenge
The Virginia Bonding Unit at the Virginia Department of Corrections needed a way for users of the public website to initiate a bond request for returning citizens. The process was all carried out on paper and was extremely cumbersome, time-consuming, and inefficient. We needed a solution that initiated the process of the bond on the public website and was finalized on an internal solution. The public website form could not transmit any personal identifiable information due to security limitations.
My Approach
01 Understand
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I conducted user interviews, observed journey walk-throughs while highlighting pain points and areas for improvement.
02 Define
Using the gathered information and research, I was able to create information architecture maps, card sorting documentation, content outlines, and site maps. This allowed me to understand the users as well as keep the business incentives in the forefront during the creation process.
03 Reframe
While referring to the UX artifacts created in the previous phase, I moved into the ideation stage of my process where the team could explore iterative designs with solutions based on user and stakeholder and management feedback. From the wireframes, clickable prototypes were provided to the users and stakeholders for testing and review.
04 Collaborate
Using an agile methodology, I used DevOps to clearly define stories and tasks in order to keep progress and handoffs visible to the team and management.
After gathering information on the users of the in the previous step, I was able to create journey maps, site maps, and card sorting documentation which would be used by the team as the sources of truth through the development cycle.
Define
Reframe
Using the artifacts crafted in the previous stage, I created hi-fi wireframes, content outlines, a UI kit, and clickable prototypes for the developers to build from. We needed wireframes that would integrate with the current public website brand standards as well as wireframes for a new internal system to be built in Power Apps.
External Public Website
Internal System
The Re-entry Bonding Unit needed a way to digitize the process for users to submit a bond request for potential employees which were returning citizens. I ran kickoff discovery workshops, conducted user interviews, and researched competitors.
Understand
Dot Voting Exercise Kickoff Workshop
Problem
How to allow potential employees to submit a bond request electronically without the translation of PII
Collaborate
Using agile project management methodology, I used DevOps to keep the team informed of progress. I crafted user stories and tasks to track effort and estimates, tagged in team mates when needed, and attached wireframes as required.
Impact
4 Hour Time Savings + Data Accessibility
The Re-entry Bonding Unit will now able to provide superior customer services to users, executive staff are able to access bonding data, and the user saves an average of 4 hours per request using the updated solution.
