Internet Justice

[unionhotel]

Watching "Spooks" the other night presented a scenario in which terrorists had kidnapped an influential cartel of industrialists. They were subjected to an Internet trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

 

Could this system ever be adopted in a real life situation? Could this be a genuine solution to crimes or situations where there is widespread public interest? Could we, the people, be allowed to become judge and jury?

 

There are clearly some technical issues and moral issues to be addressed but is this the way forward?

[hypochondriac]

Clearly not.

[Verbal]

Watching "Spooks" the other night presented a scenario in which terrorists had kidnapped an influential cartel of industrialists. They were subjected to an Internet trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

 

Could this system ever be adopted in a real life situation? Could this be a genuine solution to crimes or situations where there is widespread public interest? Could we, the people, be allowed to become judge and jury?

 

There are clearly some technical issues and moral issues to be addressed but is this the way forward?

 

Dangerous idea to bring on here. Leave it to us lot and the country will be festooned with gallows.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

The origins of the English Common Law predate the Norman Conquest , this continuously developing system of justice (for all its faults) has been widely admired and adopted all over the civilised world . Anyone seriously suggesting we should ditch all that , do away with our time honoured Jury system and descend into the mob rule of the ignorant and ill-informed via the Internet has a screw loose frankly .

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

The origins of the English Common Law predate the Norman Conquest , this continuously developing system of justice (for all its faults) has been widely admired and adopted all over the civilised world . Anyone seriously suggesting we should ditch all that , do away with our time honoured Jury system and descend into the mob rule of the ignorant and ill-informed via the Internet has a screw loose frankly .

 

Or reads the Sun or Mail.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

Dangerous idea to bring on here. Leave it to us lot and the country will be festooned with gallows.

 

And many miscarriages of justice!

[EastleighSoulBoy]

Or reads the Sun or Mail.

 

Exactly.

 

Knee and Jerk come quickly to mind.

[sadoldgit]

No, where I work we are trialling virtual courts but it is not working very well. You need to get people together in the same room. We may not have a perfect justice system but it is pretty good. Take away the element of people coming together in one place to deal with these issues and you take away the human element that makes it work.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

Can you imagine this in Pompey? There would Peadiatricians hanging from every tree!

[unionhotel]

The origins of the English Common Law predate the Norman Conquest , this continuously developing system of justice (for all its faults) has been widely admired and adopted all over the civilised world . Anyone seriously suggesting we should ditch all that , do away with our time honoured Jury system and descend into the mob rule of the ignorant and ill-informed via the Internet has a screw loose frankly .

 

 

Clearly, I asked a series of questions concerning possibilities and in no way did I endorse or condemn the feasibility of these actions becoming reality.

 

It's interesting to note, however, that some studies have already been undertaken. Nobody could have envisaged the influence that technology has had on our lives - CCTV cameras being a classic example of remote justice - and it remains concievable that refinements to our justice system could, in time, involve the use of this medium.

 

BTW I neither subscribe to the Sun or the Mail and am genuinely interested to know from people better informed technologically whether it is possible to adopt such a system and whether it could be hi-jacked for nefarious reasons.

[benjii]

There is a virtual court in Kent I believe.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Clearly, I asked a series of questions concerning possibilities and in no way did I endorse or condemn the feasibility of these actions becoming reality.

 

It's interesting to note, however, that some studies have already been undertaken. Nobody could have envisaged the influence that technology has had on our lives - CCTV cameras being a classic example of remote justice - and it remains concievable that refinements to our justice system could, in time, involve the use of this medium.

 

BTW I neither subscribe to the Sun or the Mail and am genuinely interested to know from people better informed technologically whether it is possible to adopt such a system and whether it could be hi-jacked for nefarious reasons.

 

All right I'll take this seriously then .

 

Any proper trial of a serious case will take days/weeks/months of evidence presentation and legal argument - how exactly do you propose that every web user with some say in deciding guilt or innocence has been paying attention throughout this long and involved process ?

 

In a proper Jury system the jurors have to fulfill certain criteria , such as not knowing personally any of the people involved and being law abiding citizens themselves - how do you ensure that over a anonymous broadband connection ?

 

Transmitting the 'trial' over the Internet or TV itself could present problems - I've served on two different jury's (and been Foreman on one) and you really have to be there . A juror needs to be able to asks questions on points of law , he/she can examine evidence in person and discuss the case with their fellows in the privacy of the Juryroom without outside influence or distraction . This is a serious responsibility for serious people , not some meaningless vote on 'Strictly come Dancing' or 'X Factor' :mad:

 

I could go on but I hope you get the point , this is not only a bad idea , it's a dangerous idea if you really care about justice and the rule of law .