Inmates may be able to appear in court from jail
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If approved, a closed-circuit video system will be installed to connect the jail with county courtrooms to allow judges to handle arraignments and certain other types of cases by communicating via video cameras and monitors.
McMinnville Electric System CEO Rodney Boyd told County Executive Kenneth Rogers about a similar system in Dalton, Ga., and the possibility of installing a comparable system here. Rogers and Boyd visited Dalton and observed the system in operation. Rogers was impressed with its efficiency and feels the system would benefit the county.
“We’re going to save on transportation costs,” Rogers said. “Security is of the utmost importance, and this will help with that since the prisoners won’t have to be transported into town. The officers who are having to wait in court for the hearing and handling the transport, they can be out on the road doing what they’ve got to do, versus sitting or transporting inmates. I think it will be a strain off the county if we can go this way.”
Attorneys can attend hearings either at the courtroom, communicating with clients via the system, or be present at the video room at the jail with the inmates. Inmates can opt to appear before the judge in the courtroom if they choose to do so, according to Rogers, and jury trials would have to be handled in the courtrooms.
Rogers is currently in the process of discussing the system with local judges Larry Ross and Bart Stanley. Stanley has already indicated he is willing to try the system.
“As long as it doesn’t put a burden on our attorneys, it’s OK with me,” Stanley said.
Rogers received a positive response from Sheriff Jackie Matheny, who said he feels the system would be a real boon to his department.
“There are a number of things you look at,” Matheny said. “If you notice on any given court day, which is almost every day now, we are just taking hordes of people back and forth. It’s tying up numerous personnel. Of course arraignment day is probably the biggest day we have, and therefore if they could have arraignment, such as a video arraignment, then we could be cutting down on transporting and keeping people tied up. We could do it with less personnel.”
Matheny feels security issues come into play as well.
“The safety factor would be a tremendous thing too,” he said. “That’s one of the things that concerns me when we transport back and forth.”
According to Rogers, the county has been looking at systems and should be able to purchase a bare-bones setup for around $15,000.
There has been discussion in the past of setting up a courtroom at the jail, but the cost has been considered by some to be prohibitive. Rogers feels the video system may be a cost-effective alternative.
“I see a return on our money within three months,” Rogers said.
Installation of the system would depend on the approval of the judges involved and a vote from the full commission, something Rogers hopes won’t be a problem.