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
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

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

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

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

10. 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.
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. 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

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. 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

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

22. 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

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