How is the justice system changing as technology becomes increasingly integrated into court proceedings, surveys and criminal investigations? Although such advances may sound like something out of a futuristic scenario, they are already happening today.
Last week, Vilnius was at the centre of discussions on technological progress in legal psychology. The conference of the European Association for Psychology and Law (EAPL) took place here, attended by around 250 participants from 34 countries – from Europe to the USA, Asia and South Africa.
This year marked the 35th edition of the prestigious event, organised by Professor Rita Žukauskienė and Dr Aleksandr Segal from the Applied Psychology Research Laboratory at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU). Symbolically, MRU is also celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. As this was only the second time in 20 years that the EAPL conference was held in Lithuania, Dr. Segal invited guests in his opening speech to return to Vilnius in at least two decades.
The MRU Applied Psychology Research Laboratory team actively participated in the symposia and discussions at the EAPL2025 conference, presenting their research findings on surveys of minors who have experienced violence in court proceedings and the challenges they face in adulthood.
Four world-renowned experts whose work has shaped the modern field of legal psychology also gave lectures in Vilnius.
Justice through a screen – is it still tangible?
„A physical and a virtual court hearing are not the same thing. But the most important question is: Does this have negative consequences for justice?“ asked one of the keynote speakers at EAPL2025, Professor Dorris de Vocht from Tilburg University (Netherlands). She is investigating how digital technologies are changing criminal proceedings.
The pandemic has changed court practice – more and more hearings are now taking place remotely. While this saves time, the professor pointed to the human experience: „When people in a virtual courtroom feel they are not being heard, they lose trust in the entire system.“
In her opinion, it is more difficult to make eye contact in digital courtrooms, non-verbal signals disappear, and technical glitches or unequal access to devices can undermine the sense of justice. Even young people who are well versed in social media do not necessarily feel confident when they have to speak in a serious remote hearing.
Digital possibilities are already opening up new avenues – for example, the use of holograms to question witnesses has been tested in the United States – but Prof. Dr. D. de Vocht warned against getting lost in technological progress:
„Justice is not just about the transfer of data. It's about human connection, respect and understanding. We should keep that in mind when designing digital justice systems,“ the professor concluded.
When silence is not a lie
Sometimes people hide the truth not out of malice, but to protect themselves from shame or pain. This is particularly evident in cases of sexual abuse, where victims may remain silent about the violence they have suffered.
Professor Dr. Irena Bošković from Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands) emphasised that concealment can be a form of psychological adaptation rather than deception. Together with her colleagues, she is developing assessment tools such as the GIBSO questionnaire, which has already been translated into five languages and helps to uncover not only embellishments of information, but also omissions.
„Response distortions are not just simulations. They can take many forms, including silence,“ said the professor, calling on forensic psychologists to recognise these subtle forms of distorted responses. Prof. Dr. Bošković's goal is for decisions in the legal system to be based on accurate, comprehensive information – and not on omissions.
Reaction distortions are not just simulations. They can manifest themselves in various forms, including silence,’ said the professor, calling on forensic psychologists to recognise these subtle forms of distorted reactions. Prof. Dr. I. Bošković's goal is for decisions made by the legal system to be based on accurate, comprehensive information – and not on omissions.
Artificial intelligence in criminal investigations
Investigating a crime is like navigating a maze in which every detail can be the key to the truth. Professor Jessica Woodhams from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), one of the founders of the International Crime Linkage Network (C-LINK) together with Professor Matt Tonkin and Dr. Amy Burrell, presented an artificial intelligence tool called LATIS. This algorithm was developed in collaboration with the British National Crime Agency.
The system analyses the location, time and behavioural patterns of crimes, helping to quickly link sexual offences – which is particularly important in the fight against serial offenders. The professor emphasised that AI must be used responsibly, ensuring data anonymity and checking for possible distortions.
Avatars in interrogations – safe training for investigators
Professor Dr Pekka Santtila from New York University Shanghai presented an innovative method for training investigators – virtual avatars that simulate the behaviour of children or suspects. Such training helps to develop interrogation skills without running the risk of traumatising real people, especially children.
The vision for the future includes avatars tailored to the profile of a specific suspect, as well as large language models (LLMs) that can suggest questions during the interrogation or warn of bias. „It is important that AI supports rather than makes decisions. A human must control the process and take responsibility,“ emphasised the professor.
People at the heart of technology
In her opening speech at the conference, MRU Vice-Rector for Studies Prof. Dr. Natalija Kaminskienė emphasised: „In today's world, law cannot exist without psychology, and these two disciplines cannot exist without technology. Above all, we must see people wherever innovation arises.“
Dr Aleksandr Segal, organiser of EAPL2025, added that while technology brings new opportunities, it also brings new challenges: „The most important thing is to use innovation responsibly, in accordance with ethical principles and scientific standards, and for the benefit of people – especially those who are most vulnerable.“
Prof. Dr. Rita Žukauskienė emphasised that events of this magnitude are rare in Lithuania, but offer a much-needed opportunity to bring together leading figures in legal psychology from around the world:
„The EAPL conference not only provided an opportunity to present the work of MRU and Lithuanian researchers to an international audience, but also to forge new partnerships. This strengthens our country's visibility on the research map and enables us to contribute to solving global challenges in legal psychology,“ said the professor.
This year's EAPL conference reminded us that no matter how far we advance in the application of technology, justice always begins with interpersonal relationships. And in the first week of 2025, Vilnius became the place where the world's leading experts in legal psychology gathered to discuss precisely that.
Interviews with the keynote speakers of the conference can be found here:
- Prof. Dr. Pekka Santtila
- Prof. Dr. Irena Bošković
- Prof. Dr. Dorris de Vocht
- Prof. Dr. Jessica Woodhams
Created by Laura Stankūnė, Communications Specialist at MRU Science and Innovation Centre