An Integrated Governance Perspective for Sustainable Access to Justice: The Complementary Roles of Policy Design, Governance, and Policy Implementation

Sustainable access to justice is a central objective of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, yet many justice systems continue to struggle to translate policy aspirations into equitable, effective, and sustainable public services. Although previous research has generated valuable insights into policy design, governance, and policy implementation, these dimensions have often been examined with different analytical emphases or within specific justice programs, providing only a partial explanation of how sustainable access to justice is achieved. This study argues that it is more appropriately understood as an integrated governance process in which policy design, governance, and policy implementation operate as complementary institutional processes. To examine this proposition, an explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 810 Thai citizens and analyzed using multiple regression analysis, followed by thematic analysis of interviews with 33 key informants representing Thailand’s principal justice organizations to explain and contextualize the quantitative findings. The results indicate that policy design, governance, and policy implementation were each significantly associated with sustainable access to justice, with policy implementation showing the strongest statistical association. Qualitative findings further suggest that coherent policy design provides strategic direction, governance facilitates coordination and collaboration across justice organizations, and effective implementation connects policy intentions into accessible and equitable justice services. Building on these findings, the study proposes an Integrated Governance Perspective for Sustainable Access to Justice, presented as an integrated analytical framework that brings together three complementary institutional dimensions to explain sustainable access to justice. The study contributes to public administration and justice governance scholarship by advancing an integrated explanation of justice governance and offering practical guidance for strengthening justice sector governance and supporting the achievement of SDG 16, particularly in complex multi-agency justice systems.