28th Annual Transnational Crime Conference

13 May - 15 May 2026

Session information

Breakout session one: Overburdened justice systems and curtailment of defendants' rights

Description

In many places around the world, there are complaints about the overburdening of the justice systems. This quickly leads to calls for ‘We must make criminal proceedings more effective!’.  These are allegedly becoming increasingly extensive and complicated. But isn't it rather due to limited budgets and staff shortages? Must we accept that the necessary adjustments go hand in hand with curtailing defence rights? Are there other possibilities? Could AI offer an option?

This panel will address the critical challenges facing modern justice systems, examining how resource constraints and case backlogs impact the fundamental rights of defendants. The discussion will explore practical solutions and best practices for maintaining due process standards while managing overwhelming caseloads.