This article presents the concept of connected courts for easy access to justice. The COVID-19 pandemic struck the world at the end of year 2019 and spread rapidly. The spread of the virus was so fast that in March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as the pandemic. As a result of this announcement and the ever-increasing spread of the virus, most countries in the world closed their international borders. Moreover, to restrict or minimize the human-to-human interaction, a term called “social distancing” started making its way among the masses in almost every community. Before this public had rarely heard about this term. To ensure the social distancing, lockdowns were imposed in the world and it actually looked like that the world has come to a halt. Almost everything, for example businesses, industries, shopping malls, restaurants, courts, and activities at academic institutions were immediately ceased in most parts of the world.
At this particular point, technology came forward to rescue the businesses, operations, and academia and the general public saw several online tools for communication. Though majority of the tools were available before pandemic, however, the trend for using these tools was not prevalent. But as the pandemic spread, to resume their activities, businesses and educational institutions etc. started utilizing the communication tools to help employees work remotely from home, and students, and teachers started the online learning activities. Researchers started interacting online and a record number of Webinars were conducted with the help of the online communication tools. Not only this, even the hospitals that were crowded with the COVID-19 patients, started providing telemedicine services for patients of illnesses other than Corona. As a matter of fact, this transformation to the adoption of digital tools and technologies for remote communication and performing day to day operations almost in every field of life could not be as speedy as it turned in this time of pandemic. It won’t be wrong if we say that these tools in the wake of pandemic have actually transformed the social communication and interaction ecosystem that people living in this age would continue using for their rest of lives.
Taking this transformation as the opportunity, it is the high time that judicial systems worldwide should adopt using the smart technologies in order to pace up the judicial procedures and clear the backlogs. In several countries, like Pakistan during the pandemic, the judicial system also ceased to work for a certain period of time. Therefore, the court cases have started building-up and eventually this results in the slowing the judicial procedures. Now, it is the time when technology can be best utilized to transform the stereotypical paper-based judicial systems both in the developing and developed counties into automated judicial workflows. Particularly, with the introduction of technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT), edge, and cloud computing, the move toward a digital judicial system which we call here as “Connected Courts” should not be impossible. Also, Cisco in this regard has introduced a video-based solution called Cisco Connected Justice that offers a comprehensive professional services to courts. This is a great initiative by a technology leader and will for sure attract the attention by more market players.
In the IoT environment, there are several devices, for example laptops, smart phones, tablets, smart watches, and various types of sensors that are connected with each other to exchange data regardless of their physical placement and locations. Connecting the entities of the judicial ecosystem, for example courtrooms, affiliated offices and ministries, police stations, and prisons etc. through the technology can bring a great deal of benefits for all the involved stakeholders. Through the video links, not only physically secure but efficient court proceedings can be ensured. Moreover, through technology, the process of investigation can be made efficient and could be performed remotely, but off course that depends on the nature of the incidents being investigated.
Benefits of Connected Courts
Though currently, the concept of connected courts has not been materialized, however, from the perceived initial thoughts it can bring the following benefits.
Online video testimony
The connected courts can ensure safe, secure, and quick testimonial evidence, if needed through the online video links. This can minimize or eliminate the need for the witnesses to appear in court physically. Therefore, not only the costs of physically visiting the courts can be minimized but also certain threats and physical hazards can be evaded.
Safe statement recording of prisoners
In continuation with the above, through connected courts inmates in the prisons will no longer be needed to bring to the courts physically for statement recording and court proceedings. The tasks can be performed via the video streaming through the technology deployed in courts and jails or detention centres.
Rapid prosecution
Another benefit of this can be rapid prosecution because the lawyers and prosecutors can easily ensure their virtual presence in the courts through technology. Moreover, it can be fairly easy for the busy lawyers who have to appear in different courts in different cities on the same day to attend the hearings online instead of physical presence. Off course, this can be a step toward speedy prosecution and rapid delivery of justice.
Clearing the backlog
There are excessive case backlogs in the courts, particularly in developing countries. An apparent reason for this backlog is the scarcity of the resources, logistics and rapid access to the information. Therefore, this backlog can be reduced, and unnecessary delays can be minimized to a great extent by adopting technology.
Collecting situational evidence
In case of certain incidents when collecting the situational evidence from the crime scene is required, with the help of appropriate technologies the task can be effectively performed and the evidence can be shared immediately with the concerned departments.
Rapid official workflows
Through easy access to the past cases and decisions via technology, the judicial workflows can be made efficient. Regarding a particular case the expert advice might be required by the courts in some situations and this can be easily accomplished through the video links. Moreover, the court decisions or observations on past cases can quickly be accessed by the lawyers or judges to seek advice.
Performance measurement of the judicial system
Automated judicial workflows can make the performance evaluation of the judicial system easier by the higher authorities.
Reduced operational costs
Bringing technology to courts can cut the operating expenses that are recurring in nature to a greater extent. Purchasing logistics, routine office expenses, and travelling costs can sufficiently be minimized.
Counselling of the prisoners
Counselling experts and psychologists can conduct online therapy sessions remotely with the prisoners etc. thereby minimizing the need for physical contact.
Is this transformation that easy?
There can be a counter argument for the matter discussed in this blog that this won’t be possible to replace the conventional judicial system to the fully automated. Well, that’s right and our argument here does not revolve around replacing the existing system. Instead, the capacity and efficiency of the existing system can be greatly enhanced through technological reforms. Moreover, the current COVID-19 episode should be taken as an opportunity to head towards a permanent transformation. Definitely, all this cannot be materialized immediately and will require great efforts because it might require sufficient amendments in the laws and legislations as well but for sure can bring significant betterment for the judicial systems around the world.
