Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

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

2. 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. Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

3. 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

4. Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology • Technology plays an increasingly important role in the day-to-day 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 Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

5. Digital Recording Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

6. 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 Digital Recording Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

7. Digital Recording Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

8. Digital Recording Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

9. Mobile IT Carts ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

10. 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. Mobile IT Carts ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

11. 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

12. ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

13. 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. … Moving Forward ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

14. 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 Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

15. 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 Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

16. ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED COURTROOMS Enabling Remote Appearances Corrections Unit – located in institutions Courtroom Remote Appearances Via Video Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

17. VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

18. 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. VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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 non-traditional video access points. • Reducing the need for travel, reducing operating costs, increasing access. VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

22. VIDEOCONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY Mobile videoconferencing can support the transformation of: • Court proceedings, • Staff communication, • Collaboration, and • Training Mobile Videoconferencing Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology

23. Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology CLOSING QUESTIONS? Ontario Showcase Courtroom Modernization: In-Court Technology