David Bookstaver (212) 428-2500 (OCA)
Tom Antenen (212) 266-1055 (DOC)
MAYOR GIULIANI AND CHIEF JUDGE JUDITH KAYE OFFICIALLY OPEN BROOKLYN'S NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART VIDEO CONFERENCE COURTHOUSE
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye and Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman today officiated at the opening of the Video Conference Courtroom Center in Brooklyn Supreme Court. The Center's opening represents the criminal justice system's advance into an era of electronic communication that will speed case processing, unclog court calendars, and reduce inmate transportation volume and costs.
"I am very pleased to be here to celebrate the official opening of the first video courtroom in New York State," Mayor Giuliani said. "In this new state-of-the-art facility, the defendant is not physically present in the courtroom but can be seen and heard along with the judge, counsel and other participants without ever having to leave Rikers Island. This innovative, practical use of technology will bring significant benefits to everyone involved. It will increase efficiency for counsel and the defendants, reduce the risk of injury or disruptions for Correction officers and save the City the cost of transporting prisoners from Rikers Island to court. Simply put -- the program makes sense and because we have the technology available, it is only fitting that we put it to good use.
"Over the last five years, as the crime rate has decreased by record levels, the City's courts and jails have become busier than ever," the Mayor continued. "We've asked more of those who serve in the criminal justice system, and they have delivered. I know that if it were not for the professionalism, commitment and cooperation of the City's Correction officers and court officials, the City would not have achieved the same measure of success that we are now experiencing today."
Chief Judge Judith Kaye said, "It simply makes no sense to bring an incarcerated defendant a great distance for a five-minute proceeding. The Brooklyn Video Conference Center utilizes available technology to make possible an electronic alternative to routine court appearances, which will help to expedite the processing of criminal cases. The new Video Conference Center, created in partnership with the City of New York, represents another step in the court system's move toward modernization and is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through intergovernmental cooperation."
Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman said, "The new Video Conference Center will benefit the court system, the City and, ultimately, the taxpayers by generating substantial cost savings for the City and by helping the Court to manage time and limited resources more efficiently. At the same time, the new procedure will lessen security risks by reducing the volume of defendants transported to the courthouse daily. I want to thank James Imperatrice, the Chief Clerk at Brooklyn Supreme Court, for initiating this project and guiding it through to its fruition."
Bernard Kerik, Commissioner of the Department of Correction, said, "This technology allows the Department to continue to improve the management of our jails by having more control over inmate movement. With the potential for cost savings by speeding the adjudication of criminal cases and reducing the demand on transporting inmates throughout the City, the expanded use of video technology is clearly the way of the future."
The electronic courtroom features video monitors and cameras linked to similar equipment at two jails on Rikers Island. The hook-up enables those in the courtroom to communicate with defendants on Rikers Island, and for the defendants to observe the proceedings in the courtroom and respond to questions from the judge, as well as from defense and prosecution attorneys. Consequently, it is unnecessary for the inmate to leave Rikers Island to participate in routine court appearances. The electronic proceedings are limited to arraignments, plea bargains, motions, discovery, scheduled bail reviews and adjournments.
The Department of Correction, in conjunction with the Mayor's Criminal Justice Coordinator, DoITT, and the NYC Probation Department, initiated electronic interviews of inmates for pre-sentence probation reports in June 1996. The technology was later expanded to Brooklyn Supreme Court for attorney/client interviews and program interviews with the Brooklyn Drug Court. In November, 1997, a pilot program was initiated with Brooklyn Supreme Court for routine court appearances. The program will now be a permanent feature of the Court and will be expanded from 10 cases per week to 10 or more a day.
The Department of Correction has been an advocate of expanded electronic appearances because the video program has the potential to greatly reduce congestion in the court holding facilities and the demand on its Transportation Division. In fiscal year 1997, the Department transported more than 420,000 inmates to courts throughout the City. In addition, 9,100 inmates were transported for attorney/client interviews and 4,670 for probation interviews. By reducing congestion and the high volume of transports, security will be greatly enhanced in jails, buses and courts.
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