Justice Environments Research
Summary of Objectives
The Court of the Future Network is a group of architects, engineers, psychologists, judicial officers, lawyers, criminologists and others in Australia and New Zealand who work closely with court communities to improve the quality of justice environments.
Description of Activities
Our interests include both the physical and psychological setting of courts and tribunals, and also the processes and rituals of justice. We identify emerging issues, carry out research to work out how new approaches might work in the real world for the court, and disseminate information through a serious of conferences and workshops. We have run two national conferences on court architecture, security and technology; plus four jury research and practice conferences.
We also develop research projects in consultation with court communities. One has been completed - Juror satisfaction (CRC-funded; led by Jane Goodman-Delahunty). An ARC-funded project, on Mental Health Tribunals (ARC funded), is led by Terry Carney. Three other current ARC-funded projects are led by David Tait: Juries and Interactive Visual Evidence ('JIVE'), Gateways to Justice (about remote communications in courts), and Fortress or Sanctuary: Enhancing court safety by managing people, places and processes.