New research led by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will take a deep dive into how AI can be used to transcribe court hearings and lead to faster and cheaper access to court records for victims and others who need them.
Costly court transcript fees mean that victims often have to pay up to thousands of pounds to access what was said in court. Access to transcripts can provide vital clarity and reassurance, allowing victims to understand what happened during their case in their own time.
Currently, transcripts of Crown Court proceedings are produced by contracted providers. The new study will analyse how the Ministry of Justice’s in-house AI, Justice Transcribe, could meet required accuracy standards while reducing transcription time and costs.
The findings will inform nationwide plans to upgrade, modernise and open up the court system and increase access to justice in the digital age.
“Victims show immense courage in coming to court, delivering their testimonies and looking their perpetrators in the eye.” says Sarah Sackman, minister for courts and legal services. “That’s why it is only right that they process what happened in their case in their own time and on their own terms.
“By deploying AI in the courtroom, we can boost transparency and access to justice, building a modernised system that victims can rely on.”
The government recently announced that victims whose cases go through the Crown Court will have access to free transcripts of judges’ sentencing remarks from early next year as part of a major boost to deliver swifter access to justice.
