Nearly 200 remote hearings between September and November 2018

In a period of three months, 96 judges used on 191 occasions a total of 72 remote hearing points established by mid-September 2018 nationwide. 51% of the hearings were conducted in November. With the help of the equipment, protected persons as well as victims needing special treatment, such as juveniles, can confess their testimony in a separate room in a relaxed atmosphere, away from the defendants.
Most remote hearings were conducted between September and November 2018 by the Budapest County Court (51) and the County Court of Győr (36). In 120 cases, registrations were made from penitentiary institutes, 64 times from remote hearing rooms of courts, and 7 times from abroad. During the period under review, in most cases the accused persons were heard with the help of the new equipment.
Data shows that the usage of remote hearing systems is becoming increasingly popular among judges. While in September 10 judges held 15 hearings, in October, 31 judges used this opportunity on 79 occasions. In November, 55 judges used the new system 97 times, which represents an almost seven-fold increase compared to the first reviewed month.
The technique developed during the project transmits images in excellent quality, it is possible to focus on the smallest detail of a clue or a photo. The system is also cost-effective since witnesses can save travel costs by giving their testimonies before a court that is close to their place of residence. The system can also be used for other purposes. When there are no trials in the trial rooms suitable for remote hearing, these rooms can also be used by courts for staff meetings and trainings, equipment may be used for video conferences as well.