Peer-reviewed article
“Zooming In” on Children’s Rights During a Pandemic: Technology, Child Justice and covid-19
Nessa Lynch, Ursula Kilkelly ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This paper examines how child justice systems in Ireland and Aotearoa New Zealand adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to balance public health measures with children's rights. It explores technological innovations such as remote participation in court hearings and virtual visits for detained children. The study demonstrates both the challenges pandemic restrictions created for child justice operations and opportunities for maintaining safeguards through digital tools.
Key points
- COVID-19 public health measures significantly disrupted child justice systems and places of detention
- Remote participation technology was used in remand hearings and trials
- Virtual visits were implemented for children in detention
- Technology served to balance public health restrictions with children's rights protection
- The pandemic prompted innovation in how child justice systems operate
Limitations
This is a descriptive case study analysis without quantitative outcome data or comparative effectiveness analysis. The document does not assess whether these technological adaptations actually improved or hindered children's access to justice or their overall well-being outcomes.
Abstract
Abstract The implementation of public health measures in response to the covid-19 pandemic has impacted heavily on the operation of child justice systems and places of detention, creating new challenges in the safeguarding and implementation of children’s rights. Yet, it has also been a time of innovation, particularly in the use of technology. Using case studies from Ireland and Aotearoa New Zealand, we discuss how technology has been used to maintain the balance between restrictive yet necessary public health measures and the operation of the child justice system. Examples include remote participation in remand hearings and trial and the use of “virtual visits” for children in detention.