Tailored Restorative Justice
Re-designing our broken judiciary for the digital age.
University Brief
Redesign a product or service with long-term thinking with the ultimate goal of society's betterment.
The Challenge
Our group of three identified the Magistrate court system as desperately needing improvement. We believed it had the potential to utilise emerging technologies and progressive system changes to improve the lives of the forgotten and ultimately reduce recidivism rates.
My Responsibilities
Stakeholder Interviews
Interviews were carried out with Magistrates, a courtroom designer, a charity worker, a youth offending team practitioner, and a prison officer.
Observational Studies
We attended a Magistrate court hearing allowing us to experience first-hand the problematic complications of the courtroom.
Inmate Surveys
We asked a series of questions to 20 ex-convicts on their experiences with the judiciary system.
KEY INSIGHTS
Prototyping in VR
As we entered the design stage we decided to create a range of courtroom designs as VR experiences. Alongside this, we wrote scenarios which we could talk users through and gauge how they were feeling. This allowed us to see how different factors could affect an individual.
Neighbourhood Justice Centre (NJC)
A NJC combines a Magistrate court with social services to create a one-stop location, connecting those in need to specialist services required to break the cycle of crime, as well as delivering justice.
The Final Design
The example court demonstrates the adaptable key components, informed by research:
Changing light levels, desk layouts and position of stakeholders impacts formality, and intimacy, and invites conversation when necessary. Public viewing balconies and witness glass can change in opacity for privacy.
Defendant outcomes are impeded by their understanding of court proceedings. Assistive UIs will offer step-by-step guidance, a court “who’s who”, accessibility and translation tools.
SCAN ME
Use the QR code below to view a 360° immersive version of the court.
