Virtual Reality Software to Tackle Trauma Experienced by Court Victims

A Belfast-based tech company, Immersonal, has developed virtual reality software to help court victims prepare for the traumatic experience of giving evidence in court. The virtual reality software allows victims to explore and interact with a virtual judicial process, providing a less traumatizing experience than attending court in person. The technology will feature in the Hague as part of the International Criminal Court.

The CEO of Immersonal, Tom Houston, stated that the aim of the software is to provide court victims with a less traumatic court experience. He further explained that victims can design their own courtroom setting in the actual courthouse where the case is being heard, using a headgear that is used to construct the virtual world. The virtual reality software enables users to navigate a three-dimensional world that contains the people and objects they will encounter at the physical court appearances.

Immersonal started in 2021 by a team of virtual reality experts with the goal of providing non-tech inclined individuals and organizations with an affordable way to create virtual reality experiences for themselves. Since the company’s inception, it has secured contracts worth up to 500,000 euros to provide virtual reality gadgets to courts within a 12-month period.

“Going to court can be intimidating but this technology allows you to walk through a three-dimensional world which recreates the actual court building where the case is to be held.”

Immersional CEO, Tom Houston

Functionality of Virtual Reality

Although Northern Ireland is not currently using the virtual reality court software, Geraldine Hanna, Northern Ireland’s first victim of crime commissioner, believes that virtual reality has huge potential to help improve the traumatic experiences of victims. She pointed out that the victim support Northern Ireland website offers a 360-degree view of courtrooms online, which can provide a valuable insight into court buildings.

Ms. Hanna added that incorporating virtual reality into the criminal justice system will be the next step in enhancing the experiences of court victims. Victims need to receive the proper information and support to appear at court proceedings, and virtual reality technology has shown to help court victims since its inception. The new development comes after the Scottish government is piloting an initiative using virtual reality headsets.

In conclusion, VR may become influential in court rooms in the future. The technology can allow victims to explore and interact with a virtual judicial process, providing a less traumatizing experience. Hence, the potential of incorporating virtual reality into the criminal justice system is huge, and it could help improve the traumatic experiences of court victims.

Photo credit: Aditya Joshi(Unsplash)