Preparing criminal justice professionals to address new (post)Pandemic challenges as a result of criminals’ new modi operandi

ended

Objectives: To train EU legal practitioners (judges, prosecutors, lawyers in private practice) on the new Covid (post)pandemic challenges enabling them to gain an overview of the complexity of those criminal cases with tech/internet components. Activities: 7 seminars, 1.5 days each: Bucharest, Dublin, Lisbon, Cracow, Barcelona, Thessaloniki, Tallinn. Topics: Understanding post Covid criminals’ new modus operandi, Digital tech as tool to commit crimes, Online investigation new methods, Effective use of Internet open source intelligence, Basics of digital forensics, Tackling the illegal trade on the darkweb, Videoconferencing and vulnerable victims. Target group: 15 judges + 15 prosecutors + 10 lawyers = 40 x 7 seminars = 280 legal practitioners. Relevance and expected results: To familiarise participants (who often have no technical background) with the internet-related challenges and difficulties. In the Project the link between Tech and Law will be very strong; To provide participants with the basic understanding of the internet architecture and concepts (Internet Protocol, anonymity online, encryption, internet cache, proxy servers, etc.); To make participants aware of Covid (post)pandemic criminals’ new modi operandi (including the recent EU legislation on e-evidence, child sexual abuse, work carried out on encryption, etc.); To exchange best practices and information in a very practice-oriented way. Outputs: 7 seminars (1.5 days each), 6 video podcasts, 45 mins each (e-learning), audio podcasts, of approximately 20-25 mins each. In MP3 format, audio podcasts can be enjoyed on-the-go on portable devices (mobile learning or m-learning). Project dedicated webpage on ERA’s website. The present Project will pioneer a new area where well-coordinated training schemes are needed to provide the basic skills necessary to cope with internet-related investigations to the largest possible number of EU legal practitioners.