Mock trial, a vivid visual legal propaganda channel in Nghe An

When the gavel rang out outside the courtroom

On the morning of September 20, the hall of the People's Committee of Hai Loc commune (Nghe An) was packed with people. More than 700 union members, youths and people attentively followed a "mock trial” trial for organizing the illegal use of drugs. Although it is just a simulation, everything is recreated as real – from the way the jury conducts the trial, the prosecutor argues, the defense attorneys, to the sentencing.

The scenario was based on a real case: an 11th grade student, due to lack of knowledge, was lured into drug use. When the sentence of 7 to 8 years in prison was announced, many students were silent. Many eyes turned to the “defendant” with the haunting thought – just one minute of failure, the future could be closed behind bars.

NKV, a student at Nguyen Duy Trinh High School, shared:“When I heard the verdict, I shuddered. If I were in that situation, I wouldn’t have dared to look at anyone. I realized that just one moment of impulsiveness, asserting that I was an adult, could cost me my youth.”
A prosecutor involved in the staging shared:“Even though it was just a mock trial, standing in front of hundreds of students, we clearly felt the responsibility of law enforcement. Every word, every hypothetical sentence can teach a real lesson.”

Not stopping at the trial part, the organizers also included a legal Q&A section and interactive games with prizes. The intuitive and lively approach helps viewers both acquire knowledge and remember more deeply the seemingly dry regulations in the Penal Code.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thi - Chairman of Hai Loc Commune People's Committee said that this is an effective opportunity to propagate the law, not only for young people but also to help prosecutors and police officers practice professional skills and strengthen their behavior in front of the community. "Each trial is a lesson for both the audience and the organizer" - Mr. Thi emphasized.

Previously, on May 9, 2024, at Ky Son High School, another “mock trial” shocked hundreds of students. The story was re-enacted from a case of intentional injury due to a conflict in teenage love. Just because of a challenge, two students used knives and sticks to attack their schoolmate, seriously injuring the victim. When the “sentence” was announced, many students understood that a moment of anger can cause youth to slide into regret.

From these stories, the message about the severity of the law and the consequences of violations is conveyed more deeply than any lecture.

Educational effects spread from schoolyard to community

Not only students, many people are also becoming familiar with this form of propaganda. At Quynh Luu 1 High School, the question and answer session on drug prevention attracted a large number of students to participate. They were trained in thinking and critical thinking skills, and also learned how to identify and avoid dangerous situations. After attending, many students shared: "After watching the trial, we clearly saw the boundary between right and wrong and understood that the law is not a distant thing."

The propaganda effect of “mock trials” comes from the way knowledge is “softened”. Instead of having to memorize each clause, students remember the details of the case, remember the defendant’s feelings, remember the sentence – and from there, naturally form a sense of compliance with the law.

Legal education experts believe that the form of “acting out the law” through real situations helps students to absorb the knowledge through emotions, not just through reason. When students witness the consequences of wrongdoing and listen to the “defendant’s” apology, the legal lesson becomes much more vivid and profound than in class. This is the factor that makes “mock trial” the most effective propaganda model today.

In fact, over the past time, Nghe An Provincial Police have coordinated with the Procuracy, the Court and the Department of Education and Training to maintain this activity regularly in localities. The script of each trial is written based on real cases, suitable for the psychology of the age group, helping students to easily accept. The roles - judge, prosecutor, secretary, defendant, witness - are all taken on by judicial officers, ensuring authenticity and seriousness.

From the lowlands to the highlands, from the cities to the highlands, this model is spreading strongly. Wherever there are students, there is a "mock trial". Many places also organize it periodically, associated with movements such as "Building safe schools", "Preventing drug crimes", "Preventing school violence". Thereby, legal awareness in the community is significantly improved, contributing to maintaining social order and safety.

The judiciary also considers this a useful opportunity for “self-training”. When playing a role, prosecutors or judges must conduct, debate, and persuade in front of a crowd – skills that are not easily acquired in a real court. A prosecutor shared: “By acting and speaking to students, we also learn how to communicate in a more understandable, approachable, and convincing way.”

“Mock trials” are no longer mere propaganda activities but have become a strategic legal education model. There, students not only understand the law but also experience the real feelings of violators, thereby learning how to protect themselves, live correctly and responsibly.

In the context of increasingly juvenile crime, maintaining and expanding “mock trials” is an investment in the future. When students understand the law, respect the law and know how to self-regulate their behavior, that is the greatest success of legal education – and also the foundation of a disciplined, civilized society.

In the era of social media spreading information quickly and sometimes in a wrong direction, this form is the "vaccine" that helps young people have correct awareness and avoid being drawn into social evils. When each hammer sound in the school yard, it not only reminds us of a hypothetical sentence, but also reminds us of the real value: the law is present in life, protects people, and needs to be respected every day.

Tien Dong