Beam me up, Scotty! Effective participation to virtual criminal proceedings

The frequent use of video-links in criminal hearings has changed courtroom dynamics, replacing physical presence with virtual participation. While financially efficient, this shift raises concerns about the defendant's effective participation. This interdisciplinary study will explore the conditions under which effective participation can be achieved in a virtual setting, focusing on the impact on communication, engagement, and legal requirements for presence. Using a human-centered approach towards law, I will collect data through interviews and courtroom observations, emphasizing defendants' perception of fairness. Anchored on socio-legal scholarship, the study provides an evidence-based analysis towards the right to effective virtual participation.

The frequent use of video-links in criminal hearings has changed courtroom dynamics, replacing physical presence with virtual participation. While financially efficient, this shift raises concerns about the defendant's effective participation. This interdisciplinary study will explore the conditions under which effective participation can be achieved in a virtual setting, focusing on the impact on communication, engagement, and legal requirements for presence. Using a human-centered approach towards law, I will collect data through interviews and courtroom observations, emphasizing defendants' perception of fairness. Anchored on socio-legal scholarship, the study provides an evidence-based analysis towards the right to effective virtual participation.

Conditions for online effective participation to criminal law hearings; impact of video-links on participation, presence and perception of legitimacy and fairness; defendants’ own account towards the use of online participation.