Prosecutors are preparing a wish-list of technology upgrades for the three Hamilton County Criminal courtrooms.
“Right now we have a hodge-podge of equipment,” Hamilton County District Attorney Bill Cox said. “It’s just so cumbersome.”
Mr. Cox showed technology consultants the old portable projectors and screens that must be rolled in on a cart and set up each time they are needed.
Two years ago, Circuit Court courtrooms underwent high-tech upgrades at a cost of about $80,000 per room.
“We want uniformity among the courtrooms,” said Mr. Cox, who along with Assistant District Attorney Boyd Patterson met with officials from a Knoxville-based multimedia company, Customedia Services, to explain the improvements needed to make evidence presentation quicker and to allow judges to hold arraignments by video conference.
County Commissioner John Brooks said he believes the commission would approve the expenditure.
“I think I can sell that,” he said. “I think there is a lot of momentum to get it done right now. Everyone has seen Circuit Courts’, and they know what is needed now.”
He said he would like video-conferencing equipment also installed at the jail, in the magistrates’ office and at the judges’ bench so defendants can be arraigned without security officers having to transport them to the courtroom.
Equipment included on Mr. Cox’s must-have list are permanently-mounted projectors and screens, video conferencing capability, multiple power outlets on the attorneys’ tables and lectern, VHS tape-to-digital conversion ability, and flat-screen monitors in the jury box so jurors can more easily view photos, documents and video.
The proposed upgrades have not been put out to bid yet.
Officials from Customedia, the company that upgraded equipment in the Circuit Court courtroom, estimated that outfitting criminal courtrooms would cost about $240,000.
Mr. Cox said he would meet with other vendors soon.
Micah Miles, owner of Customedia, said video arraignments are becoming more and more popular.
“We are seeing courts enhance their efficiency drastically with that capability,” he said.
County officials began discussing video arraignments in 2005 after Brian Nichols overpowered guards in an Atlanta courthouse while being transported to court killing a judge and two others.
Mr. Cox said he likely will make the funding request from the District Attorney’s capital budget.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
E-mail Monica Mercer at mmercer@timesfreepress.com
