Transcript Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology Presenter: Dino Romaniello Court Solutions Branch, Court Services Division Ministry of the Attorney General October 25, 2012

Courtroom Modernization:
In-Court Technology
Presenter: Dino Romaniello
Court Solutions Branch, Court Services Division
Ministry of the Attorney General
October 25, 2012
Courtroom Modernization:
In-Court Technology
Mandate of the
Court Services Division, Ministry of the Attorney General:
To provide a modern and professional court service that
supports accessible, fair, timely, and effective justice
services.
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Courtroom Modernization:
In-Court Technology
 The Court Services Division’s mandate is enabled by the
strategic use of information technology which helps to meet the
diverse and unique needs of every court location in Ontario.
 Information technology supports and helps transform the
day-to-day operations of the courts through the incremental
introduction of new services for all users of the court.
 The Court Solutions Branch is responsible for implementation
and management of the information technology components of
the Court Services Division’s Five-Year Plan.
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Courtroom Modernization:
In-Court Technology
 Technology plays an increasingly important role in the day-today operations of Ontario’s courts.
 Evolving business requirements, of the court and of the many
justice partners who interact with the court, calls for new and
innovative uses of both current and emerging technology.
 Ongoing initiatives within the Court Services Division include:
- Digital Recording
- Enhanced Electronically Enabled Courtrooms
- Videoconference Technology, including the use of mobile video
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Digital Recording
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Digital Recording
Digital recording of the record assists the Ontario courts by
providing:
 Superior quality recordings,
 Excellent annotation functionality,
 Fast search and replay,
 Secure and reliable storage of the court record,
 Increased access, availability, and confidence in the
court record, both in court and after proceedings
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Digital Recording
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Digital Recording
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
Mobile IT Carts
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
Mobile IT Carts
 Select court sites across the province have Mobile
Information Technology Carts available.
 This “shareable” resource helps to provide enhanced
evidence display capability for court proceedings.
 There are two models of the Mobile IT Carts - standard and
enhanced. Court sites choose from these two models
based on local requirements.
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
Features include:
 In-court display of multimedia presentations,
 Electronic evidence display,
 Support for remote appearances by counsel, witnesses and
interpreters,
 Fully integrated audio-visual systems controlled by touch
panels,
 Equipment to support simultaneous interpretation,
 Integrated audio uplift and assistive listening devices,
 Internet access for counsel, as well as desk connections to
ceiling-mounted projectors and judicial monitors, and
 Bail and Remand hearings using videoconferencing
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
… Moving Forward
The demand for electronic evidence display support, in a
variety of multi-media formats, is ever-increasing, requiring
support for:
 Video surveillance technologies used by private sector
organizations and police services, and
 The requirement for the courts to ensure that all digital evidence
can be viewed in court.
Upgrades for “play and display” electronic equipment are
currently being implemented in 19 courtrooms in the Toronto
Region.
This experience will assist in the development of a model for
broadening the availability of electronically enabled
courtrooms across the province.
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
… Moving Forward
Evidence Screen
Courtroom Screen
Evidence Camera
Counsel for the accused
and Crown Attorneys
Public viewing room away from
the courtroom
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
Enabling Remote Appearances
Desktop Units
Remand Unit
 Accused persons appear via high-quality video
 Used for Bail and Remand, Weekend and Statutory Holiday
(WASH) Courts
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS
Enabling Remote Appearances
Corrections Unit – located in
institutions
Remote Appearances Via Video
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Courtroom
VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY
Mobile Videoconferencing
 The Justice Video Network (JVN) is mandated to serve all
areas of the justice system, providing standardized
videoconferencing and converged communications
services.
 The solutions offered by JVN introduce efficiencies and
enable the transformation of day-to-day business.
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY
 An essential tool for day-to-day operations of the courts,
the use of videoconference technology allows connections
when travel/in-person appearances are not possible or
efficient.
 Uses in court administration include:
-
Bail / Remand,
Remote witness testimony and witness preparation,
Psychiatric/fitness assessments,
Expert witness Testimony/vulnerable witness testimony,
Multi-jurisdictional hearings,
Family case conferences, and
Hearings with participants in remote northern, fly-in only
locations.
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY
Mobile Videoconferencing
Mobile videoconferencing technology provides a high
definition, high quality, secure, and reliable video
connection anywhere, anytime, using:




a personal computer,
a webcam,
a microphone, and
appropriate software
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY
Mobile Videoconferencing
Mobile videoconferencing will assist the needs of both the
court and justice participants by:
 Extending both reach and availability of the court’s video
network.
 Ensuring secure, reliable and easy-to use connections
between desktops, mobile devices, courtrooms, and nontraditional video access points.
 Reducing the need for travel, reducing operating costs,
increasing access.
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY
Mobile Videoconferencing
Mobile videoconferencing can support the transformation
of:
 Court proceedings,
 Staff communication,
 Collaboration, and
 Training
Ontario Showcase
Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology
Courtroom Modernization:
In-Court Technology
CLOSING
QUESTIONS?
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Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology