Technology has the potential to speed up the criminal process and reduce the burden on victims, witnesses, and the accused. Digital tools like remote hearings and video-recorded pretrial interviews can improve safety, support vulnerable participants, preserve witness memories, and reduce costs, especially in cross-border cases. However, concerns have been raised about fairness, the stress and cognitive load it may place on legal professionals, and potential negative impacts on communication between participants, affecting their sense of being truly heard.
The new EU-funded E-ViVi project addresses these concerns by gathering insights from legal professionals, summarising research, and establishing best practice recommendations for the EU.
The project’s key objectives include:
- Developing best practices for video-recorded interviews and remote hearings in court.
- Strengthening the capacity of legal professionals to use digital tools while safeguarding rights.
- Promoting international exchange of best practices through dissemination activities.
