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Digital Vulnerability in Criminal Justice

Vulnerable People and Communication Technologies

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  • Open Access
  • © 2026

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Overview

Authors:
  1. Carolyn McKay

    1. Sydney Law School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia

  • Uses the theoretical framework of digital criminology
  • This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access

  • 3251 Accesses

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About this book

This open access book examines the impact of digitalisation processes on fair, accessible and inclusive criminal justice for vulnerable individuals. Based on original empirical data from an Australian Research Council funded national study, the book evaluates digitalised criminal justice, specifically, the increasing use of remote hearings and virtual courts, and the interrelationship with vulnerability. It asks: in what ways do remote communication technologies, such as videolinks, videoconferencing, and pre-recorded evidence, assist or disadvantage vulnerable witnesses, complainants, victims and defendants in the criminal justice system? By interviewing and surveying 175 Australian judicial officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers and affiliated professionals, the book examines the impact of digitalised criminal justice on all vulnerable individuals. Themes include the benefits and challenges to human connection, communication, comprehension and confidentiality, as well as court authority, cross-examination, and emotional expression. While there are certain universal and non-contentious experiences of videolinks, the key practical findings are sharply delineated between vulnerable witnesses versus vulnerable defendants. Theoretically, the book merges digital criminology with vulnerability theories to contribute understandings of ‘digital vulnerability’, that is, the interplay between digital technologies and vulnerable individuals in criminal justice. Digital Vulnerability in Criminal Justice provides critical and contemporary insights, and forward-looking recommendations for ensuring fair digitalised criminal justice into the future.

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
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  2. Introducing Digital Criminal Justice

    • Carolyn McKay
    Pages 1-19Open Access
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  3. Understanding Digital Vulnerability (Conceptually and Methodologically)

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21
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    2. Digital Criminology, Vulnerability Theories and Digital Vulnerability

      • Carolyn McKay
      Pages 23-43Open Access
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    3. Researching Digitalised Criminal Justice with Empirical Methods

      • Carolyn McKay
      Pages 45-62Open Access
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  4. Empirical Insights into Digital Vulnerability

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 63-63
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    2. What Is Vulnerability in Criminal Justice?

      • Carolyn McKay
      Pages 65-81Open Access
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    3. Remote Vulnerable Witnesses, Complainants and Victims

      • Carolyn McKay
      Pages 83-107Open Access
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    4. Remote Vulnerable Defendants

      • Carolyn McKay
      Pages 109-137Open Access
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    5. Future Visions of Digitalised Criminal Justice

      • Carolyn McKay
      Pages 139-156Open Access
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    6. Conclusion

      • Carolyn McKay
      Pages 157-169Open Access
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  5. Back Matter

    Pages 171-178
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Authors and Affiliations

  • Sydney Law School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia

    Carolyn McKay

About the author

Dr Carolyn McKay is Associate Professor in Law at the University of Sydney Law School where she teaches Criminal Law, Procedure, and Digital Criminology. She is author of The Pixelated Prisoner: Prison Video Links, Court ‘Appearance’ and The Justice Matrix (2018, Routledge) and recipient of an Australian Research Council ‘Discovery Early Career Researcher Award’ (2021-2025) for the Digital Criminal Justice Project: Vulnerability and the Digital Subject (DE210100586).

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PDF accessibility summary

This PDF has been created in accordance with the PDF/UA-1 standard to enhance accessibility, including screen reader support, described non-text content (images, graphs), bookmarks for easy navigation, keyboard-friendly links and forms and searchable, selectable text. We recognize the importance of accessibility, and we welcome queries about accessibility for any of our products. If you have a question or an access need, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. Please note that a more accessible version of this eBook is available as ePub.

EPUB accessibility summary

This ebook is designed with accessibility in mind, aiming to meet the ePub Accessibility 1.0 AA and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. It features a navigable table of contents, structured headings, and alternative text for images, ensuring smooth, intuitive navigation and comprehension. The text is reflowable and resizable, with sufficient contrast. We recognize the importance of accessibility, and we welcome queries about accessibility for any of our products. If you have a question or an access need, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

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