Contents

                                                                          Page

    Acknowledgments                                                        vii
    Obtaining the Report in computerised form                              x
    Recommendations                                                        xi

 1.  Introduction

     1.1. Purpose of this Report                                           2
     1.2. Structure of the Report                                          2
     1.3. Related matters                                                  3
     1.4. Research method                                                  4
     1.5. The focus on 'complex' and criminal trials                       5
     1.6. Courts and parties involved in complex criminal trials           7
     1.7. Problems of complex criminal trials                              7
     1.8. Potential benefits of better use of information technology       9

 2.  Key technologies in complex trials - overview

     2.1. Document text retrieval and management                           11
     2.2. Document image retrieval and management                          17
     2.3. Integrated legal document management                             18
     2.4. Presentation graphics                                            18
     2.5. Infrastructure for court technologies                            18
     2.6. Other applications of information technology relevant to courts  23
     2.7. Computer support for judges                                      28

 3.  Criminal trial computerisation - a survey

     3.1. The Commonwealth                                                 31
     3.2. South Australia                                                  33
     3.3. Western Australia                                                36
     3.4. New South Wales                                                  39
     3.5. Victoria                                                         40
     3.6. The United Kingdom                                               40
     3.7. The United States                                                43
     3.8. Other common law jurisdictions
     3.9. Some lessons from existing systems                               50

 4.  Transcript - supplying 'clean water'

     4.1. Capture of transcript                                            53
     4.2. Dissemination of computerised transcript                         57
     4.3. Standards and quality of transcript                              58
     4.4. Transcript retrieval software                                    60
     4.5. Transcript retrieval in the courtroom                            64
     4.6. Defence access to litigation support facilities                  65
     4.7. Conclusions - Determining factors in effective transcript use    66

 5.  Exhibits and other documents - managing paper mountains

     5.1. Choice of technologies to manage exhibits and other documents    69
     5.2. Document control databases
     5.3. Full text retrieval of exhibits and other documents              74
     5.4. Image retrieval of exhibits and other documents                  74

 6.  Co-operation and procedure concerning computerised documents

     6.1  Prosecution obligations to provide copies of documents and
           statements                                                      83
     6.2  Powers of Courts concerning use of computerised documents        87
     6.3  Disclosure of computerised exhibit lists                         88
     6.4  Standards for computerised document disclosure                   89
     6.5  Access by the jury to computerised material                      89

 7.  Presentation graphics and summaries - simplifying complex evidence

     7.1. Juror comprehension in complex trials                            93
     7.2. Software used for presentations                                  94
     7.3. Purposes of use of presentation graphics                         95
     7.4. Examples of the use of presentation graphics                     95
     7.5. Computerised summaries                                           100
     7.6. Evidentiary questions concerning summaries and graphics          101
     7.7. Defence use of graphics and summaries                            104
     7.8. Jury access to computerised charts, graphs and summaries         104

 8.  Improved communication, education, and standards

     8.1. Co-operation and communication                                   107
     8.2. Who should co-ordinate information exchange?                     108
     8.3. Desirable functions of the IT Service                            112
     8.4. Setting of advisory standards                                    119
     8.5. Courtrooms for computers - court design and facilities           121

 Bibliography                                                              123

 Glossary of technical terms, abbreviations and products                   133