Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Justice Systems

Authors

  • Cédric Foussard Terre des Hommes, Switzerland
  • Mariana De Klerk-Pérez Cruz Terre des Hommes, Switzerland
  • Angela Virgil Baker McKenzie, US

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46941/2023.e1.2

Keywords:

Covid19, Child justice, justice systems, digital justice, children rights.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, declared a global health emergency in 2020, presented unique challenges for child justice systems worldwide. Children in detention facilities faced increased health risks, prompting efforts to expedite their release and protect their well-being. The pandemic disrupted normal legal proceedings, making it difficult for legal professionals, judges, and authorities to maintain contact with children in the justice system. In response, some countries introduced safety measures during court hearings, such as physical barriers, to protect children from the virus. Others turned to digital technology, conducting remote hearings to reduce the risk of viral transmission. While digitalization offers efficiency and cost-effectiveness, questions regarding fair access to justice and data security have arisen. This article explores the potential long-term impact of digital justice on child justice systems beyond the pandemic. The pandemic's effects on children in detention, their rights in crisis situations, the roles of child justice professionals, and the adoption of virtual courts are discussed, highlighting the evolving landscape of child justice post-pandemic. 

References

Brennan Center for Justice (2020) The Courts’ Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis [Online]. Available at: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/courts-responses-covid-19-crisis (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Child Rights Intergroup (2020) European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights [Online]. Available at: https://www.childrightsmanifesto.eu/ep-intergroup/ (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Council of Europe (2010) Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on child-friendly justice [Online]. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/16804b2cf3 Accessed 17 October 2023 (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Council of Europe (2020a) Respecting Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights in the Framework of the COVID-19 Sanitary Crisis: A Toolkit for Member States [Online]. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/sg-inf-2020-11-respecting-democracy-rule-of-law-and-human-rights-in-th/16809e1f40 (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Council of Europe (2020b) Management of the judiciary – compilation of comments and comments by country [Online]. Available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/cepej/compilation-comments (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Elinson, Z., Paul, D. (2020) Jails Release Prisoners, Fearing Coronavirus Outbreak [Online]. Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jails-release-prisoners-fearing-coronavirus-outbreak-11584885600 (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

European Commission (no date) Overview of the Commission’s response [Online]. Available at: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/coronavirus-response/overview-commissions-response_en#:~:text=The%20Commission%20has%20mobilised%20more,the%20coronavirus%20and%20save%20lives (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

European Commission (2021) EU #Coronavirus Response [Online]. Available at: https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2021-07/2021_06_15_eu_response_to_covid_june_update.pdf (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2020) Statement of Principles Relating to the Treatment of Persons Deprived of Their Liberty in the Context of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic [Online]. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/16809cfa4b (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Foussard, C., Vigil, A., Perez, M. (2023) ‘Impact on child justice in a world of digital courts: Perspectives from the bench’, Intersections. East European Journal of Society and Politics, 9(2), pp. 29–53; https://doi.org/10.17356/ieejsp.v9i2.1143.

France 24 (2020) UN Urges Prisoner Releases to Stem Spread of Coronavirus [Online]. Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/20200325-un-urges-prisoner-releases-to-stem-spread-of-coronavirus (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Global Initiative on Justice with Children (2020) Campaign: Accelerate release of children from detention. Protect children from covid-19 [Online]. Available at: https://justicewithchildren.org/covid-19-advocacy/ (Accessed:17 October 2023).

Illinois Department of Corrections (2020) Visitation Rules & Information [Online]. Available at: https://www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/pages/visitationrules.aspx (Accessed:17 October 2023).

Justice with Children (2020a) Operational Guidelines for Security Forces Access to Justice for Children and Youth in Times of COVID-19 Diverting Children from Judicial Proceedings and Facilitating Reintegration [Online]. Available at: https://justicewithchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Operational_Guidelines_for_Security_Forces_Covid19_Global-Initiative-on-Justice-with-Children.pdf (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Justice With Children (2020b) Policy and Practice: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Justice System [Online]. Available at: https://justicewithchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Policy-Practice-Covid-19.pdf (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Justice With Children (2020c) Operational Guidelines: Social Workforce [Online]. Available at: https://justicewithchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Operational_Guidelines_for_Social_Workforce_Covid19_Global-Initiative-on-Justice-with-Children.pdf (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Juvenile Justice Initiative (2021) Children’s Experience with Virtual Court: Interviews with Children in State Juvenile Prisons [Online]. Available at: https://www.jjustice.org/ourteam (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Lynch, N., Kilkelly, U. (2021) ‘Zooming In’ on Children’s Rights During a Pandemic: Technology, Child Justice and COVID-19’, The International Journal of Children’s Rights, 29(2), pp. 286–304; https://doi.org/10.1163/15718182-29020010.

Mockevicute, E. (2020) Remote court hearings in the time of COVID the new normal? [Online]. Available at: https://www.boyesturner.com/news-and-insights/remote-court-hearings-in-the-time-of-covid-the-new-normal (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

National Juvenile Defender Center (2021) Due Process in the Time of COVID: Defenders as First Responders in a Juvenile Court System Struggling with the COVID-19 Pandemic [Online]. Available at: https://njdc.info/wp-content/uploads/Due-Process-in-the-Time-of-COVID-19.pdf (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Nowak, M. (2019) United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty [Online]. Available at: https://omnibook.com/view/e0623280-5656-42f8-9edf-5872f8f08562/page/1 (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Requejo Isidro, M. (2020) Impact of the COVID-19 Virus on the Justice Field: Information at the e-Justice Portal [Online]. Available at: https://eapil.org/2020/04/20/impact-of-the-covid-19-virus-on-the-justice-field-information-at-the-e-justice-portal/ (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

UNICEF (no date) Technical Note: COVID-19 and Children Deprived of their Liberty [Online]. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/albania/media/2716/file/Technical%20Note.pdf (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

United Nations (1989) Convention on the Rights of the Child [Online]. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (2020) Preparedness, Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Prisons and Other Places of Detention: Interim Guidance [Online]. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/434026/Preparedness-prevention-and-control-of-COVID-19-inprisons.pdf?ua=1 (Accessed: 17 October 2023).

Downloads

Published

2023-12-21

How to Cite

Foussard, C., De Klerk-Pérez Cruz, M., & Virgil, A. (2023). Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Justice Systems . European Integration Studies, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.46941/2023.e1.2