A system to digitally record court hearings across Poland has been extended through a project supported by EU funding. The initiative, which covers all civil law cases and minor offences, has also introduced new e-services in ordinary courts. Thanks to the investment, electronic records have been made more easy to access, and it is now possible to conduct hearings remotely. Automatic speech-to-text transcriptions have been made available and courts can make use of video conferencing technologies.
Introducing electronic records in Poland’s ordinary courts
- 26 July 2019
Computerisation is a natural, irreversible process. I myself can no longer imagine going back to the period before the advent of computers, as that would be like returning to the olden times, as it were.
As a result of this project, 1 300 courtrooms have been equipped with a digital recording system for hearings which allows for the use of video conferencing. That means the system now covers a total of 3 567 courtrooms throughout the country. Around 7 500 people have attended training courses to learn how to operate the equipment.
Complete records
It is now possible to produce records of open court sessions by recording the proceedings using audio/audio-visual recording equipment and so produce oral statements as grounds for judgments. The introduction of the technology provides a comprehensive record of individual testimonies. Recording what the participants actually said in proceedings – without any editing by another person – allows their spontaneous statements to be thoroughly assessed.
The equipment and systems that have been installed and put into use have enabled digital content to be created as electronic records. These e-records have subsequently been distributed to sub-systems which provide information about cases to citizens and businesses. The upgraded Information Portal of the Ordinary Courts makes it possible to request access to, and use of, electronic services, including the e-records. The system allows people to participate remotely in a trial.
Comprehensive coverage
This project continued the roll-out of a system of digital records for court hearings which was started between 2007 and 2013. The system is of benefit to citizens and businesses who have been or will be participants in court proceedings, as well as staff working in the field of justice such as judges, court reporters, barristers, legal advisers and other court officials.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Introducing electronic records in ordinary courts (civil-law cases and minor offences)” is EUR 30 948 458 (PLN 132 495 629), with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 26 188 578 (PLN 112 117 771) through the “Digital Poland” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “ICT”.