Courts in Missouri use video conferencing to stay connected
Judges in Missouri’s 4th Judicial Circuit no longer have to drive all over to attend hearings and other legal proceedings. Rather, the court system has deployed video conferencing technology to allow hearings to take place virtually.
The courts in the circuit are spread out across five counties in northwest Missouri, forcing judges to make long trips to each court site. Now that the video conferencing technology has been installed at each location, the court system can streamline schedules and reduce travel expenses, Government Technology reported.
Elaine Wilson, Nodaway County Circuit Court Clerk, told the source that the video conferencing services are particularly helpful for juvenile cases, which often require court employees to make numerous trips to various courthouses. But Wilson also foresees the technology improving the efficiency of legal proceedings for other matters as well, such as criminal proceedings.
Two jails in Victoria and Prince George, Canada, are also using video conferencing services to enhance the criminal justice system. The Ministry of Children and Family Development has allocated funding for a video conferencing program designed to allow young offenders to stay in contact with their friends and family members while in jail. It will save time and money normally dedicated to transporting individuals throughout the area, the Victoria Times Colonist reported.
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