New South Wales prisoners are concerned appearing in court remotely via a video link reduces them to "just a face on a screen" and hampers their interaction with their legal representatives, a new study has found.

Key points: More than 60 per cent of court appearances happen via video link

More than 60 per cent of court appearances happen via video link Study finds video links hamper lawyer-client discussions

Study finds video links hamper lawyer-client discussions Justice Department says it minimises the risk of escape

The University of Sydney found the use of video links in NSW courts rose by more than 400 per cent between 2002 and 2014.

More than 60 per cent of court appearances in the state now happen via video link, the study showed.

The study's author Carolyn McKay said courts needed to be wary the use of video links did not compromise existing procedural principles.

"In terms of Legal Aid, there's been an increase of about 2,000 per cent, so it has to be something we have to be vigilant about," she said.

"I'm no luddite, but I just think we have to be careful and vigilant that people are still being afforded a just and fair space for their criminal procedures."

The study made a number of recommendations to improve video link usage, including:

Explain to prisoners how to use video link, how to communicate with judicial officers and their lawyer, and what to do in the event of a technical failure

Explain to prisoners how to use video link, how to communicate with judicial officers and their lawyer, and what to do in the event of a technical failure Improve courtroom cameras and prison video link screens to give prisoners a clearer view of the remote courtrooms

Improve courtroom cameras and prison video link screens to give prisoners a clearer view of the remote courtrooms Improve soundproof video studios to increase privacy and help reduce background noise from within prisons

Improve soundproof video studios to increase privacy and help reduce background noise from within prisons Design prison video studios to reflect courtroom interiors

Design prison video studios to reflect courtroom interiors Make civilian clothing available to prisoners appearing for significant legal matters, such as sentencing and parole hearings.

Video links hamper lawyer-client interaction

Carolyn McKay said many prisoners were worried about being reduced to a "face on a screen", where confidential talks with a lawyer were often impossible.

"They can be very positive in terms of avoiding transportation, but they can also basically unsettle some of the major legal tenants that we have in our society," Ms McKay said.

"They radically alter the way that people can communicate with their legal representatives

Ms McKay said despite the technology's efficiency benefits, it risked preventing meaningful contact with lawyers and judicial officers.

"When you've got someone who is the centre of the criminal proceeding and they're the only person who's actually not in the physical space of the court room, it raises questions about fairness, it raises questions about the nature of open and impartial justice," she said.

"When you've got someone who's actually being contained in the space of state incarceration it raises questions about the power imbalance, which in law they refer to [as] equality of arms."

Links a safer, more efficient option

However, a NSW Department of Justice spokesman said video conferencing was a safer and more efficient option for inmates, staff and the community.

"It reduces the need to transport inmates and detainees long distances for short appearances that may take only a few minutes," the spokesman said.

"It also minimises the risk of escape or injury.

"The increase in the number of inmates appearing via audio-visual link technology has risen over the past 16 years in line with the technology being rolled out across the state."

The department said bar table handsets were available for lawyers to have a short private conversation with a client in custody while court was sitting.