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Laws
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Criminal Justice: Rights and Practice
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Criminal Justice: Rights and Practice

A special issue of Laws (ISSN 2075-471X). This special issue belongs to the section "Criminal Justice Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 September 2025) | Viewed by 2454

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Liam J. Leonard

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Law Crime and Justice, University of Winchester, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
Interests: criminology; rights; criminal justice; law
Natacha Harding

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
School of Law Crime and Justice, University of Winchester, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
Interests: criminology; rights; criminal justice; law

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Laws will focus on the activities of and links between the various elements of the criminal justice system when dealing with criminal justice activities. It will also focus on issues of rights in contemporary society. The Special Issue will include contributions from academics who have also worked as practitioners in the various fields of criminal justice and legal work. These interesting perspectives will provide the reader with a great deal of expert research from a combination of the academic and practitioner viewpoints.

  • Focus: This Special Issue will focus on criminal justice and rights cases from the perspectives of those who have combined professional activity within the criminal justice system and research from their academic careers.
  • Scope: The scope of the Special Issue will be broad in order to capture the disparate activities and academic backgrounds of contributors who have a combination of academic and practitioner work across the criminal justice system.
  • Purpose: The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight the research of those who have worked professionally in the criminal justice and legal systems in order to present a deeper exploration of key issues within such fields and to introduce the reader to cutting-edge research from these viewpoints.

The Special Issue will supplement the existing literature by providing insights into contemporary academic research undertaken by a range of scholars who have also engaged with professional work in the criminal justice system. This combination of research perspectives will provide an innovative and original collection, which could be of interest to academics and practitioners engaged with researching crime justice and rights. 

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 300–500 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors (liam.leonard@winchester.ac.uk; Natacha.harding@winchester.ac.uk) or to the Laws Editorial Office (heather.liang@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure a proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

Dr. Liam J. Leonard
Natacha Harding
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Laws is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • criminal justice
  • criminology
  • rights
  • law
  • policing
  • prisons
  • courts

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

33 pages, 353 KB  
Article
Integration of Artificial Intelligence into Criminal Procedure Law and Practice in Kazakhstan
by Gulzhan Nusupzhanovna Mukhamadieva, Akynkozha Kalenovich Zhanibekov, Nurdaulet Mukhamediyaruly Apsimet and Yerbol Temirkhanovich Alimkulov
Laws 2025, 14(6), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/laws14060098 - 12 Dec 2025
Viewed by 306
Abstract
Legal regulation and practical implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in Kazakhstan’s criminal procedure are considered within the context of judicial digital transformation. Risks arise for fundamental procedural principles, including the presumption of innocence, adversarial process, and protection of individual rights and freedoms. Legislative [...] Read more.
Legal regulation and practical implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in Kazakhstan’s criminal procedure are considered within the context of judicial digital transformation. Risks arise for fundamental procedural principles, including the presumption of innocence, adversarial process, and protection of individual rights and freedoms. Legislative mechanisms ensuring lawful and rights-based application of AI in criminal proceedings are required to maintain procedural balance. Comparative legal analysis, formal legal research, and a systemic approach reveal gaps in existing legislation: absence of clear definitions, insufficient regulation, and lack of accountability for AI use. Legal recognition of AI and the establishment of procedural safeguards are essential. The novelty of the study lies in the development of concrete approaches to the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies into criminal procedure, taking into account Kazakhstan’s practical experience with the digitalization of criminal case management. Unlike existing research, which examines AI in the legal profession primarily from a theoretical perspective, this work proposes detailed mechanisms for integrating models and algorithms into the processing of criminal cases. The implementation of AI in criminal justice enhances the efficiency, transparency, and accuracy of case handling by automating document preparation, data analysis, and monitoring compliance with procedural deadlines. At the same time, several constraints persist, including dependence on the quality of training datasets, the impossibility of fully replacing human legal judgment, and the need to uphold the principles of the presumption of innocence, the right to privacy, and algorithmic transparency. The findings of the study underscore the potential of AI, provided that procedural safeguards are strictly observed and competent authorities exercise appropriate oversight. Two potential approaches are outlined: selective amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code concerning rights protection, privacy, and judicial powers; or adoption of a separate provision on digital technologies and AI. Implementation of these measures would create a balanced legal framework that enables effective use of AI while preserving core procedural guarantees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Criminal Justice: Rights and Practice)
17 pages, 270 KB  
Article
The Cost of Justice: Vicarious Trauma and the Legal System’s Duty of Care to Jurors
by John S. Croucher and Rebecca Ward
Laws 2025, 14(5), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/laws14050069 - 22 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1249
Abstract
Jurors play a critical role in the administration of justice, yet their compulsory exposure to graphic and distressing evidence during criminal trials is often overlooked in discussions of mental health and legal reform. This paper investigates the psychological impact of jury service in [...] Read more.
Jurors play a critical role in the administration of justice, yet their compulsory exposure to graphic and distressing evidence during criminal trials is often overlooked in discussions of mental health and legal reform. This paper investigates the psychological impact of jury service in trials involving murder, domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, where laypeople are required to view autopsy photographs, listen to emergency calls, and assess disturbing testimonies without any formal training or mandatory psychological support. While vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and moral injury are recognised in research on law enforcement, social work, and healthcare, there is limited acknowledgement that no professional group consistently receives adequate trauma prevention or recovery support. This gap is particularly concerning for jurors, who are laypeople compelled to participate in the justice process. Drawing on legal case studies, psychiatric research, and international precedent, this paper argues that the justice system imposes an invisible emotional burden on jurors while offering limited, inconsistent, and mostly reactive support. Although applicable to many countries, particular attention is given to Australian jurisdictions, where counselling services are sparse and optional, and where juror confidentiality laws restrict therapeutic disclosures. This research also considers the legal and ethical implications of exposing untrained civilians to traumatic material and explores whether the state could, or should, bear legal liability for post-trial psychological harm. Ultimately, this paper calls for the introduction of clearly defined trauma-informed jury procedures, including pre-trial psychological briefings, structured debriefings, and systemic reform, to acknowledge juror well-being as a necessary component of fair and ethical justice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Criminal Justice: Rights and Practice)
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