A platform independent model for exchanging information among numerous
entities in a justice system with diverse system components is
implemented in a hub and spoke arrangement. Each spoke includes a
software agent that communicates with a system component of an entity of
the justice system, translates from a common communication format to a
communication format of the system component, and manages the timing of
the flow of information to/from the system component. The hub includes an
information broker that communicates with each agent in the common
communication format, determines what information is needed by which
entity, and routes the needed information to/from respective agents for
the entities that need the information. The platform independent model
includes a plurality of traceable and linked UML models that define the
information broker from a business use case model through to a platform
independent solution model for implementation on a given solution
platform. Since these UML models are readily modifiable and traceable for
changes to the justice system, they facilitate implementation of the
system in a cost-effective manner from one customer to the next without
requiring system redesign.