Implementing Video Hearings (Party-to-State): A Process Evaluation

This document describes an evaluation of the HMCTS video hearings pilot in the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) in England and Wales, assessing user experience and program implementation. The pilot tested video hearings with an early technical product, aiming to improve convenience and participation in legal proceedings. The evaluation employed observations, interviews, and thematic coding of qualitative data. Results showed high user satisfaction and effective participation, despite some technical issues and concerns about support levels. Recommendations include technical improvements, addressing access barriers, and collecting more data on outcomes. The study suggests the potential for redefining court rituals in virtual spaces and emphasizes the need for judicial training in video hearings management. Additionally, the evaluation of user feedback on fatigue, participation ease, and technical difficulties revealed that video hearings met their goals with high satisfaction and few distractions. Overall, the pilot indicates a promising future for video hearings in the justice system. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Process evaluation
• Process methods: Individual interviews; Qualitative observational studies
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: September 2018

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes