Events
The VCJN organises yearly academic events where members can present their research, exchange ideas, and learn from one another, while staying up to date with developments in this rapidly evolving field. These events provide a space for interdisciplinary discussion, networking, and critical reflection on the use of digital technologies in criminal justice.
VCJN is also open to supporting and co-hosting events initiated by other institutions that fall within the network’s thematic scope. This includes events focusing on remote criminal hearings, video-conferencing in criminal procedure, immersive and virtual (metaverse) participation in criminal justice, as well as broader uses of digital technologies to communicate with procedural actors —such as chatbots—and issues of digital vulnerability.
VCJN members are warmly invited to propose events and topics within these areas, and to use the network as a platform for collaboration and exchange. If you have an idea for an event, please contact us here.
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Upcoming events
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Past events
Oñati Workshop on Best Practices for Remote Participation in Criminal Proceedings
In June 2025, the VCJN hosted a two-day workshop at the Oñati International Institute for the Sociology of Law, titled “Best Practices for Remote Participation in Criminal Proceedings.”
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Lund Symposium: Virtual Criminal Trials
The second symposium of our Network takes place at the Lund University, Sweden. The conference promises to be an engaging and intellectually stimulating event, combining cutting-edge scholarship with ample space for discussion and exchange. A keynote address will be delivered by Professor Carolyn McKay, who will speak on virtual criminal justice and vulnerability.
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Maastricht Symposium: the Launch of the Virtual Criminal Justice Network
Symposium Virtual Criminal Trials
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a rapid and large-scale introduction of video links in criminal courtrooms worldwide, forcing criminal justice systems to confront how digital technologies should be integrated into post-pandemic justice. While virtual proceedings promise efficiency, their implications for procedural fairness, participation, communication, decision-making, and the integrity of the trial process remain complex and contested. These challenges call for a multidisciplinary examination of virtual criminal justice that moves beyond purely legal analysis.
It was against this background that this symposium —held at Maastricht University— brought together international, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional experts to critically assess the use of video links in criminal trials and to launch the International Virtual Criminal Justice Network.
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