Study to test AI court transcripts for faster victim access
The Ministry of Justice will research whether artificial intelligence can produce court transcripts faster and cheaper, removing a significant financial barrier for victims seeking records of their cases.
Court transcript fees currently run into hundreds or thousands of pounds. Victims have had to pay these costs to access what was said during proceedings-information that often helps them understand their case and move toward closure.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service will test Justice Transcribe, the ministry's in-house AI system, against the accuracy standards required for official court records. The research will inform plans to roll out AI transcription across Crown Courts nationwide.
The government has already committed to providing free transcripts of judges' sentencing remarks to Crown Court victims from Spring 2027, upon request.
Why this matters for government staff
If the research succeeds, AI transcription could reduce both the time victims wait for records and the cost to the justice system of producing them. The shift from contracted providers to in-house technology also represents a change in how court administration operates.
The initiative sits alongside the Victims and Courts Bill and Courts and Tribunals Bill as they progress through Parliament, part of broader efforts to modernise the justice system.
Sarah Sackman KC, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, said victims deserve to "process what happened in their case in their own time and on their own terms." Faster, cheaper transcripts support that goal.
For government workers involved in courts, victim services, or digital transformation, the research outcomes will likely shape how your teams operate. Understanding Speech-To-Text AI and its applications in legal settings is becoming more relevant to the sector.
Those working in policy, courts administration, or victim support may also find value in exploring AI for Legal Professionals to understand how these tools are changing justice system operations.
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