1. Audio Visual Remands Presentation to the NCOP Security Committee
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Presentation to the NCOP Security Committee
Audio Visual Remands
17th November 2008
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

2. Audio Visual Remand System:
Purpose
To provide feedback on the Audio Visual Remands pilot project
Briefly cover the way forward with regards to envisaged national roll out
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

3. Audio Visual Remand System
Areas covered by the presentation:
Background
Impact study - benefits
Way forward
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

4. Background: AVR System: Project Goal
To establish an environment conducive to test the remand of criminal cases against accused persons who are in custody awaiting trial utilising technology in the form of audio-visual link between the prison and the court
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

5. Background: ctd Solution provided for:
A high quality audiovisual link between Correctional Centre at Durban Westville and a single courtroom at Durban & Pinetown magistrates courts
Facilities utilized to deal with cases involving the routine (run of the mill type) remands without the awaiting trial detainee leaving the Correctional Centre
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

6. At Correctional Centre: Office divided into two cubicles
Background: Audiovisual Remand Infrastructure
At Correctional Centre: Office divided into two cubicles

8. Video Remand: Impact study: Benefits
To date ATD’s appeared before the court utilizing the AVR concept with the ff benefits:
Reduction- use of transportation & personnel
Savings - costs associated therewith
Reduction - security risks in the court environment
Reduction - numbers of security officials guarding inmates – DCS/SAPS
Reduction – general traffic - no of accused persons at the magistrate courts.
Reduced administration at holding cells
Shortened time frame - conduct remands – releasing magistrate to more time for trials.
Court rolls increase for remands of cases – further investigation, formal bail application requests, legal aid requests etc. more cases can be dealt with
Accused - granted unopposed bail
Bail set previously - reduced
Sec 63 of the CPA applications
Cases are withdrawn
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

9. Impact
Pilot success - Magistrate utilising system – assisting other areas - advocate the benefits on the use of AVR.
Reflect - value added to the CJS process ito timelines.
Impress – Accused's rights not prejudiced.
Accused - not forced to use AVR system during pilot
Technology challenges – systems in place to have accused before court – same afternoon

10. Audiovisual Remands: Way forward
Pilot success - top management directives to roll AVR out nationally.
Workload (cases & ATD’s) analysis conducted to determine the most appropriate courts and Correctional Centers to implement the concept.
Prioritized courts/CCs - incremental implementation
Align further roll out with DCS - focusing on ATD’s detention centers/ large courts
Engaged with DoPW
Infrastructure specifications determined
Infrastructure modifications
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

11. Audiovisual Remands: Way forward
47 courts aligned to 36 Correctional Centers - identified for deployment.
National tender for the supply, installation and maintenance of the system, has been finalised.
A performance testing of the technology on the Department’s VPN network (as opposed to the KZN ISDN network) is currently done in the EC (New Brighton and Port Elizabeth Courts aligned to St Alban’s Correctional Centre) in Port Elizabeth.
System standardized across all high volume courts
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

12. Video Remands: Key Dependencies
Approval of the Criminal procedure Amendment (Audiovisual Adjournments) Bill
Refurbishment of the facilities especially at Correctional Centers to bring it in line with the specifications to optimally utilise the concept
BRANCH: COURT SERVICES: Chief Directorate: Court Performance

13. o
Thank You