These questions are at the heart the conference “Digital Criminal Proceedings in Practice: What Works?”, jointly organised by the E-ViVi-consortium and the Virtual Criminal Justice Network. This conference brings together researchers and criminal justice professionals to explore how digital technologies are reshaping criminal proceedings. Drawing on findings from the E‑ViVi project, the event focuses on practical experiences, best practices and future directions for fair and effective digital criminal justice in Europe.
The E-ViVi project (Enhancing Video-Recorded Interviews and Virtual Hearings in Europe) aims to develop a thorough understanding of how digital technologies affect interaction in the courtroom, to identify potential pitfalls and opportunities and to highlight promising practices for the purpose of drafting recommendations, while ensuring these are grounded in practical realities. The project entailed comprehensive data collection in three EU member states (Finland, Sweden and The Netherlands) to gather information on the practical experiences of criminal justice system professionals. The aim of the project is to improve the ways in which people are heard digitally in criminal proceedings through creating best practice recommendations and strengthening the capacity of criminal justice actors.
Project partners: HEUNI (project coordinator), Tilburg University, Lund University, University of Helsinki, Barnahus Network.
When: Friday 25th of September 8:30am to 4:00pm.
Where: Clarion Hotel Helsinki / Tyynenmerenkatu 2, 00220 Helsinki, Finland
Preliminary agenda
8.30 Registration and coffee
9.00 Welcome and introduction (Dr. Julia Korkman)
9.15 Setting the scene: why the experience of online criminal proceedings matters (Dr. Lisa Flower and Dr. Dorris de Vocht)
10.00 Meaningful interaction in online criminal proceedings: project findings (Anni Lietonen)
Overview of data collection methods and presentation of key findings from the empirical research
11.00 Panel I From research to practice: the experience of online proceedings (chair: Dr. Julia Korkman)
This panel explores how digitalisation reshapes the experience of criminal proceedings for professional and non-professional participants. Drawing on findings from the E-ViVi project, it examines issues of participation, presence and perceived fairness, asking what it means to be “heard” in a digital courtroom. Contributions will reflect on how online formats affect engagement, recognition and legitimacy and will identify ways to strengthen meaningful participation in practice.
Speakers from academia and practice:
Prof. Taru Spronken (Former Advocate General Supreme Court, the Netherlands)
Dr. Katalin Balogh (Interpreter)
Mr. Petteri Korhonen (Judge, Court of Appeal, Finland)
Dr. Oscar O’Mara (Criminologist)
12.30 Lunch break
13.30 Panel II From research to practice: effective communication in online proceedings (chair: Dr. Lisa Flower)
Focusing on courtroom interaction, this panel addresses how communication practices change and adapt in digital environments. Building on E-ViVi findings, it considers challenges related to aspects such as empathy, non-verbal communication and responsiveness as well as emerging strategies that support effective communication. Contributions will highlight practical approaches and best practices for maintaining clear, respectful and meaningful communication in online criminal proceedings.
Speakers from academia and practice:
Dr. Christina Peristeridou (Associate professor criminal law)
Dr. Anna Demenko (Defence lawyer and assistant professor criminal law)
Ms. Karolin Hellsberg (Senior Public Prosecutor, Sweden)
Dr. Cecilia Nordquist (Sociologist) (t.b.c.)
15.45-16.00 Closing of the conference
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