Virtual Video Arraignment Offers Opportunities for VARs Regina Ciardiello, Editor, VSR
It's become rather common these days for companies to cut back on "extras" such as travel and expenses, especially as the economy has taken a downturn. More often than not, companies are trying to find ways to still do business, especially as the cost of airfare and gas prices have jumped considerably in the last year. In order to alleviate these financial pressures, while still maintaining consistent internal and external communications, more companies are looking toward video conferencing technology. It might sound daunting, and previously had the reputation for sound and video quality that left room for improvement. However, times have changed, and today's video conferencing applications now have high-quality audio with a high-definition video picture--it's almost as if the person who is appearing on the screen is right there in the conference room.
While this technology has grown considerably in the last year within the private sector, it has also increased its presence within the government vertical, specifically as it relates to the preliminary hearing process when it comes to processing new jail inmates. Video conferencing is often being used on a local level, to not only save taxpayers' money, but also for public safety measures, since inmates (whether detained or already processed) do not have to be transported to the courthouse for their scheduled appearance in front of a judge. Instead, the arraignment can be done by instituting video conferencing equipment to improve VoIP and telecommunications across several departments.
One such company, Cabinet NG (CNG), a provider of document management and workflow software recently integrated electronic document management with videophone hearings for Limestone County, Ala. The county recently deployed CNG's document management software to enable a unique video hearing application. By processing new jail inmates through CNG's Secure Access Filing Environment (CNG-SAFE), all the necessary legal forms and court paperwork is instantly available during the video hearing process. As a result, Limestone County can now get the most out of local government resources during these current fiscal challenges by streamlining the preliminary hearing process by protecting the defendant's constitutional right to participate in a legal process.
Public Safety Benefits
The new technology also provides a public safety benefit, since inmates do not need to be transported to the courthouse for their hearing. In addition, it also allows the required two-person team of law enforcement officials to be assigned to other tasks, rather than transporting and escorting the inmates to their respective hearings. "Enabling electronic preliminary hearings by integrating document management with videophone eliminates the manpower, transportation and time needed for trips between the Limestone County Jail and the courthouse," says David Seibert, Limestone County's Commission Chairman.
The CNG video hearing solution is currently being used for hearings between the Limestone County 39th Judicial Court and the county's Sheriff's Office. The solution is an integration of electronic document management and videophone technologies that can be applied in various environments, such as face-to-face process requiring the processing of documents that can be liberated form the physical constraints of appearing in person. "The idea here is related to document management being used in conjunction with video," says James True, CNG's vice president of Business Development. "It's a question of: 'How can I get an inmate in front of a judge, and complete this process safely?' You really can't put a dollar amount on the safety aspect that this technology provides."
True also offers that CNG's new technology provides several benefits to the VAR community as well as government end users. "For VARs, the technology allows them to better-serve their end users with a complete solution," he says. "When this can be done, the VAR is positioned to offer more than just a video system, and instead a "complete solution package."
True adds that the technology evolved from CNG's already-proven expertise within the electronic document management space. Therefore, he says, it made natural sense to add a video conferencing component. "We've always been in the document management space, and to add video was a collaborative effort between us and our clients, since we were looking for ways to become more cost-effective; video was a natural fit," True says.
Timing is Everything
Another county that has recently deployed video arraignment technology is Oakland County, Michigan. Because of the county's tremendous population growth in recent years, the amount of court cases that needed to be processed through the county system increased as well. Therefore, to overcome these challenges, Oakland County, with the help of Polycom, developed a judicial arraignment solution known as "OakVideo."
Known as the Polycom Judicial Wall Unit, which includes the VSX 3000 video endpoint, the technology integrates multipoint video conferencing with digital document management and transfer capabilities. OakVideo allows the county to process an inmate or detainee, from arrest through arraignment, using the Polycom video conferencing equipment and an integrated Web-based software solution.
The technology works by way of the custom software that enables control of the Polycom endpoints, which allow law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, community corrections and the courts to save and secure case records on a centralized server with instant retrieval for viewing or printing. To manage the work flow and paperwork associated with processing the video arraignment cases, OakVideo automates and digitizes documents that were traditionally printed, delivered or faxed between law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor and the courts. The effect, among other benefits, is to minimize offender transport, thereby improving court security and mitigating law enforcement costs. "In Oakland County, Polycom video conferencing saves about $4.2 million a year," says Matt Jackson, Polycom's director, Global Government Markets. "There's a savings in staffing and transportation of the inmates to and from the jail, and it also provides flexibility for the judges and the attorneys involved in each case, since the technology allows for the process to move a lot quicker."
As it relates to VAR opportunities, Jackson notes that the possibilities are endless, and can also be brought forth through Polycom's distributor partner, ScanSource Communications, a division of ScanSource, Inc. Buck Baker, the division's president, stressed that video conferencing allows VARs to offer the total solution package that most end users are currently looking for. He noted that ScanSource Communications and Polycom often work together as it relates to the configuration of this technology.
"Polycom supports ScanSource Communications and resellers by having a solutions-based focus," Jackson says. "We have staff that focus on each specific vertical, and always make sure there are sales tools that we have for each reseller for each application we offer in this space."
It's become rather common these days for companies to cut back on "extras" such as travel and expenses, especially as the economy has taken a downturn. More often than not, companies are trying to find ways to still do business, especially as the cost of airfare and gas prices have jumped considerably in the last year. In order to alleviate these financial pressures, while still maintaining consistent internal and external communications, more companies are looking toward video conferencing technology. It might sound daunting, and previously had the reputation for sound and video quality that left room for improvement. However, times have changed, and today's video conferencing applications now have high-quality audio with a high-definition video picture--it's almost as if the person who is appearing on the screen is right there in the conference room.
