With growing court dockets, judicial districts are faced with less time to handle more cases, along with higher costs to maintain proper levels of security. This is especially true when jail cases require inmate movement from the jail to the courtroom for arraignments. In fact, the majority of a county jail inmate movement is for court appearances.

For example, on any given Monday, Judicial District 27A, Gastonia, N.C., processes approximately fifty jail cases requiring inmate movement to courtrooms for a first-appearance hearing.

In a typical arraignment proceeding, the judge calls for the accused at a set time. The correction officers must shackle the inmate and transport him or her to the courtroom. This procedure can be physically dangerous for the officers, and the risk of inmate escape is ever present. Following the arraignment, the inmate is returned to the correctional facility to await release or trial, with the same transport dangers being present.

Video communications from ViewCast provides the procedural efficiency sought by Courts to handle increasing caseloads, while also delivering security through its application to video arraignment. ViewCast's video arraignment solution allows the inmate, who remains at the corrections facility, to interface with the judge, the prosecutor, and the defense attorney, through networked video communications. Since inmate transportation is not required, risks to officers transporting and standing with the defendant during a normal arraignment proceeding is removed. Also, by keeping the accused in the confines of the jail, his or her human dignity can be better preserved, since there is no entering into a courtroom in an orange suit, handcuffs, and shackles.

For their video arraignment needs, Judicial District 27A in Gastonia, N.C., implemented an Interactive Video Network (IVN) from ViewCast Corporation. The system consists of a IVN Enterprise Server connecting video enabled laptop computers at the Prosecution and Defense desks to video enabled computers with flat panel displays on the Judge's bench and Clerk's desk in the courtroom. At the Jail, a casehardened video-enabled computer client is also connected through a fiber link to the VBX Enterprise Server.

Prior to the Judge entering the court, the Clerk makes a simple video call to the Jail Computer where the inmates are assembled. Through this "face to face" connection the Clerk completes any swearing in process and subsequently connects the Judge, Prosecution, Defense, and Jail computers in a four way video conference call. This is accomplished by using a IVN Call Commander, a computer application resembling a PBX telephone. This "connecting process" takes less than one (1) minute to complete. All screens display the images of the Judge and Prosecutor in the two right quadrants and the Defendant and Council in the left quadrants. The miniature cameras mounted at each of the video enabled computers are all connected through the IVN Enterprise Server to produce video images at 30fps, the equivalent of watching a DVD on your home television screen.

The proceedings commence as if all participants were physically present in the courtroom. Even those seated in the courtroom gallery can view and hear the proceedings on a large video monitor that displays the exact same images as the video enabled computer screens, with the audio being channeled through the courtroom sound system. Based on the design of the ViewCast IVN, the accused can see the judge, as well as the defense attorney, prosecutor and any witnesses, if called. Since the defendant is not transported to the courtroom, he or she avoids any contact with the public or the media.

ROI on Video Arraignment Solution from ViewCast

At a cost of approximately $65,000, the ViewCast IVN equipment installed in Judicial District 27A was purchased with County funds allocated over a three (3) year capital-planning budget. This technology benefits local taxpayers, since the budgeted expense for transporting inmates to and from court for arraignment is eliminated. The ongoing use of the video arraignment system will actually reduce the cost of maintaining security, reduce security risks, and will allow the use of officer man hours for security in other courtrooms and for use in the overall security of the District 27A Courthouse Law Enforcement Complex.

"Our concern for the efficient use of the courtroom and personnel drives us to seek better and safer methods for processing cases", said Chief District Court Judge Dennis Redwing, "and the use of video for arraignment enhances the timely processing of court cases, increases security, and reduces expenses. As an added cost savings benefit, the particular video communications technology implemented in District 27A will allow expansion to include other criminal and juvenile court proceedings, and civil pretrial and trial proceedings."

The deployment of video arraignment services helps both courts and the corrections facilities provide timely and safe arraignment and bond hearings. By utilizing this technology, inmate transportation costs are eliminated, security for all participants is enhanced, and defendants receive their first appearance before judges without many of the movements and delays previously associated with in-courtroom arraignment proceedings.

For personalized video network consultation, contact us at [email protected] or call toll-free (US only) at 800.540.4119 or (international) +1.972.488.7200.