This project looks at how different factors impact the running of immigration bail hearings. In particular, it explores how the use of video link technology may change important processes in these hearings. The purpose of the research is to improve our understanding of how immigration bail hearings work in practice and what impacts recent changes may have.
Methodology
I am conducting observations of immigration bail hearings in seven tribunal centres across the UK and, COVID-19 restrictions pending, in four immigration courts in the US. During these observations, I aim to be unobtrusive and respectful of the legal process and legal practitioners. I will also be interviewing some hearing participants to better understand how they experience hearings.
Findings
The project will run until 2022. A final report will be made available. Preliminary findings may be published before this final report.
Participation
Beyond conducting observations, I am seeking practitioners, applicants, court staff and other interested parties who are willing to be interviewed about their experience of immigration bail hearings. Volunteers should contact me as per the contact details below.
Further information
This project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The principal investigator is Jo Hynes, and the project is supervised by Professor Nick Gill and Dr. Helena Wray at the University of Exeter. The project has received ethics approval from the University of Exeter.
Website
The purpose of this website is to provide potential research participants with the information they need to decide whether they would like to participate in the research.
Find out more about why you might wish to be involved, what is involved, how your data would be used and protected, and who the researcher is.
If you have any questions, or if you have any comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jo Hynes (j.hynes[at]exeter.ac.uk).