Video Technologies

Resource Guide
This page was last updated on 3/6/2018

Resource Guide
State Links
Not only has videoconferencing proven to be effective within the courtroom, but it likewise benefits
attorneys and judges by saving time and cutting costs of the entire judicial process. While the
preliminary start-up costs can be substantial, the cost-benefit analysis shows that these costs are
quickly offset by the enhancements that it brings to the courtroom.

Links to related online resources are listed below. Non-digitized publications may be borrowed from
the NCSC Library; call numbers are provided.

Featured Links

Clarke, Thomas M. Technology and Reengineering. (2010). Future Trends in State Courts. Courts
have been improving service via technology for decades. But the time has come for courts to use
technology to help rethink and reengineer their operations.

Webster, Larry. Evaluation of Video Conferencing. (2009). This is a 2009 Court Services Division
Report of Mesa County Municipal Court.

NCSC Video Conferencing Survey. Through a grant from the State Justice Institute, the NCSC
surveyed the use of video conferencing in state courts across the country. This page contains the
results of our findings on various topics, including: Sources of funding for video conferencing
systems; extent of video for various types of proceedings; and statutes governing the use of video
conferencing.

Court Technology Bulletin. This online version of the Court Technology Bulletin features cutting
edge information about technology and the court community. (Note: Digitized copies of the printed
version of the Bulletins from 1989 to 2003 are available in the Digital Archive.)

Technology. NCSC Area of Expertise.

Technology Tools. NCSC Area of Expertise.

Production Services. Institute of Court Management provides a full service production capability to
create video components of online courts, develop interactive DVDs and deliver Web streaming
content.
Videoconferencing/Teleconferencing Vendors. Videoconferencing/Teleconferencing Vendors from
the Court Technology Vendor list.

New Horizons in Information Sharing: Video Technology for Courts: Changing Technology and
Applications. Presentation from the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the National Court Technology
Conference examines video applications in court proceedings.

General

Report to the Arizona Judicial Council. (June 2009). Criminal Rules Video Conference Advisory
Committee. An examination of the proposed use of video conferencing in the state of Arizona.

Video Conferencing/Video Arraignment. (July 2007). Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio CCNO
will assist in enhancing the safety of courtroom personnel, the general public and CCNO
Transportation Officers while decreasing the cost of transportation as well as the potential for
escape by establishing a video conferencing link between the CCNO and the respective courtrooms
for the purpose of conducting selected court appearances for offenders housed at CCNO.

Videoconferencing Approval in the Family Court Statewide. (January 2007). South Carolina Judicial
Department This is an order from the Supreme Court of South Carolina that finds that the use of
videoconferencing enhances the efficiency and security in courtroom proceedings, while maintaining
the constitutional rights of the defendants

J. Douglas Walker. Intelligent Video Technologies Enhance Court Operations and Security. (2006).
Future Trends in State Courts 2006. This article shows the latest advances in intelligent video
surveillance, video streaming, and Web-based conferencing can help courts secure their facilities,
increase operational efficiency, and improve the administration of justice. Combining technologies
increases the scope and utility of applications, while coordinating with other government technology
initiatives enables courts to realize even better cost/benefit ratios.

Bridging the Distance: Implementing Videoconferencing in Wisconsin. (2005). Wisconsin Court

System A manual to help guide jurisdictions as they consider utilizing videoconferencing
technology.

Testimony by Video Teleconferencing in Criminal Cases. (January 2004). State of New Hampshire
"Proceedings in Court" for expert witness testimony via video teleconferencing.

CLEMIS Video:Conferencing (OakVideo) . (2003). Oakland County, Michigan CLEMIS OakVideo

implements video conferencing equipment to connect district and circuit courts, the prosecutor’s
office, jail booking facilities, and law enforcement agencies.

Video Conferencing -- Participating Agencies and Information. (2001). New Jersey Judiciary The
video network is in place in every courthouse in the state, as well as in the Supreme Court, most
Appellate Division chambers, and the New Jersey Law Center, headquarters of the state bar
association. The hub of the network is located in the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in
Trenton.
Briefing Papers: Videoconferencing. (1995). Technology Programs. One of a series of six
technology briefing papers relating to emerging technologies of the time.

Your Return on a Safer Tomorrow. (2003). Statistical Analysis Center - Wisconsin Office of Justice
Assistance This is a cost-benefit analysis on Wisconsin's videoconferencing project. It projects a
$2,320,972 cost savings on an investment of $1,500,250.

The Judicial Interactive Video Network. Montana Courts A collaborative effort between the Court
Assessment Program, the Montana Juvenile Probation Officer's Association (JPOA) and Montana
Legal Services to allow district court judges to expedite the handling of cases before them while
maintaining the integrity of the court hearing. Montana Judicial Video Network Phase II Report.

Online Articles

Gutierrez, Jessaca Video Court Hearings . (August 2009). SVC: Sound and Video Contractors
Installation Spotlight: Limestone County courthouse, Alabama. Videophones provide an efficient
alternative to transporting the defendants to the courthouse for initial hearings and for other projects
in the future.

Webster, Larry. Evaluation of Videoconferencing Technology: Mesa Arizona Municipal Court. (May
2009). Court Consulting Services. An evaluation of a proposal to conduct court hearings for in-
custody defendants via videoconferencing technology, considering technological, operational, and
legal issues and constraints.

Elbow, Steven. Courtroom videoconferencing -- a cost saver or just a hassle?. (April 2009). The
Capital Times, Madison, WI Sheriff wants the judges to make more use of the videoconferencing
equipment that was installed in the courthouse when it was built in 2006.

Rains, Cass Court Hearings Turning High Tech . (June 2008). EnidNews.com, OK. Court officials
anticipate that a new video conference system allowing inmates in the county jail to appear in court
via video will save money and increase safety

Crimaldi. Laura Patchy Reception for TV Justice. (January 2008). Boston Herald, Boston, MA
Justice can be beamed into a courtroom by remote control, but 14 years after the state introduced
videoconferencing for court proceedings the technology has yet to take hold throughout the judicial
and correction systems.

Feals, Jennifer. Video Conferencing Changes Court Trials. (April 2007). The SeaCoast Online In
several Maine counties, prisoners appear before the judge via video conferencing for arraignments
and routine court appointments. The reasoning behind this approach is that video conferencing
enhances security in the courtrooms since offenders will not be present and the process is more
time efficient and less costly.

Scott, Andrew. Videoconferences Save Court Money. (July 2006). Pocono Record
Videoconferenced proceedings in Monroe County Court in Pennsylvania could save the county time
and money associated with prisoner transportation and reduce the risk of inmates escaping while
being driven to and from jail.

Walsh, Trudy. Video Conferencing Via the Web and Not. (December 2004). GCN Security, sharp
images and savings. That’s what criminal justice organizations in Florida and Michigan were looking
for in a videoconferencing system. One found the solution in a dedicated network; the other
concluded that a browser-based system met its needs. Both reaped similar savings in time, travel
and other expenses.

Willet, Willis and Mary Beth Kirven. Assessment of Video Conferencing in the South Dakota Unified
Justice System. (October 2004). Court Services Division. This resource looks at how video
conferencing has impacted the overall efficiency and processes of the South Dakota Unified Judicial
System.

Hewitt, William. Video Court Reporting: A Primer for Trial and Appellate Court Judges. (June 1991).
This historic report addresses the impact and functions of operatorless video court reporting
systems.

Federal Courts

National Videoconferencing Service Established. (2006). United States Courts (AOC of US Courts)
This reference describes the establishment of a national videoconferencing service for courts by the
US Courts AOC. With an endorsement from the Judicial Conference Committee on Information
Technology, the service is meant to eliminate redundant local connections, maintenance
agreements, and equipment.

Video Record

Standards for Digital Video Recording Systems . (March 2007). Michigan State Administrative Office
These standards are established to ensure that courts purchase and operate video
recording systems that are designed to meet the special requirements of courtroom recording. The
standards include minimum system requirements in a checklist format to guide to courts when
selecting digital video recording systems

Video Record System Implementation Manual. (February 2002). Michigan Video Courtroom Users
Group Video does not eliminate the need for written transcripts. The Michigan Court of Appeals
requires traditional written transcripts.

Maher, James. Do Video Transcripts Affect the Scope of Appellate Review?. (May 1990). 107
pages. Northeastern Regional Office. [An Evaluation in the Kentucky Court of Appeals). This report
examines whether the use of videotaped transcripts is introducing questions of fact, particularly in
the form of witness credibility, into appellate court decisionmaking.

Green Courts

Judges and Lawyers Go Green Everyday with CourtCall Appearances!. (September 2008). Los
Angeles Courts In a period of ten years this project helped to eliminate approximately 2,000,000 car
trips to and from Courts helping to save on the order of 2,000,000 gallons of gasoline.

Video Conferencing Cuts Emissions, Delivers Quick ROI. (June 1). Environmental Leader U.S. and
U.K. businesses that substitute some business travel with video conferencing can cut CO2
emissions by nearly 5.5 million metric tons in total and achieve total economy-wide financial benefits
of almost $19 billion, by 2020
Archives Prior 2000

Use of Interactive Video for Court Proceedings: Legal Status and Use Nationwide. (1995). National
Institute of Corrections This is a 1995 report from the National Institute of Corrections that defines
the use of video conferencing in the states at that time.