Wednesday, September 16, 2009
CTC-2009 - Denver, Colorado - September 22-24
We are looking forward to seeing many of you in Denver next week at CTC-2009. Watch the conference website for important announcements. And if you can't make it this year, plan on attending our E-Courts Conference in December, 2010.
The New NCSC Website
On September 16, 2009, National Center for State Courts Vice President for External Affairs, Jesse Rutledge announced the inauguration of the organizations new website at http://www.ncsc.org/
Thursday, September 10, 2009
iPods for Bailiffs?
Earlier this year, while working on a courthouse project, our NCSC team had a discussion about technology for an essential courthouse employee, the Bailiff. Now the Bailiff position is one that is critical for the orderly operation of the courtroom and a vital part of the judge’s team. But, the Bailiff’s job does not seem to have been impacted by technology advances. So that got us thinking, what kind of technology device does a Bailiff need other than perhaps a Taser? Our answers were:
1. A device that is small and light partially so that it cannot become a weapon
2. Battery power for a full work day
3. Wireless communications WiFi and/or cellular connection
4. Capable of quiet operation so as to not disturb the courtroom
5. An easy user interface
The result that we concluded from this short but demanding specification list was that either an Apple iPod Touch or an Apple iPhone could be an answer. And while we realize that there are other touch screen portable devices that available at this time, for sake of this discussion let’s use these two devices as the examples.
But before we get started, please note that the following scenarios pretty much requires a secure wireless WiFi network meaning that the network passwords are enabled and the data traffic is encrypted be installed throughout the courthouse. Many courthouses have or are already implementing WiFi and we expect that it will be close to universal in the next few years.
The first and most obvious use of the iPod type system would be for quiet communications. The iPod would allow the judge or judicial assistant to exchange messages via e-mail or some version of text messaging. Since there is no keyboard on the iPod, the Bailiff’s typing on the touch-screen would not be audible to the courtroom. This preserves the decorum of the courtroom and allows seamless communication with the Bailiff wherever they are in the courthouse.
A second possible use for the Bailiff’s iPod would be to notify the courtroom of the “queue” of defendants or parties who are ready for the judge. For criminal matters the Bailiffs may work with the detention officers as to which defendants are ready to be brought to the courtroom. Bailiffs also check with persons appearing at the courtroom as to the reason for their appearance. I am often rightly questioned when observing courtroom operations as to my presence. This allows Bailiffs to communicate the attendance to the court. We have seen this type of activity in the courtroom corridors before a court session. A wireless device that lists persons expected for that session would facilitate the check-in process with the court in and out of the courtroom.
A third possible use for a Bailiff’s handheld system could be as a detained defendant locator system. The goal of this function is to simply learn where detained defendants are located in the courthouse. In large courthouses there are many holding areas and persons are placed wherever practical. With a portable iPod Touch system there are a myriad of methods that a court could implement to keep track of detained persons and notify Bailiff’s quietly as to their location and status. A simple approach would be that defendant locations could be e-mailed/text messaged to all Bailiffs. But a more sophisticated approach would be to create a web page type application that everyone could see via the browser. This system could potentially be automatically updated from the iPod’s touch screen or via bar code – another article on this in the future.
A fourth possible application for the Bailiff’s iPod would be to view the security video system output. As more security video systems convert to digital IP based computer format, that output could be viewed by the Bailiff via the WiFi network again, with proper security. This provides an additional level of personal physical security since the Bailiff could visually check the holding area before entering. It would also allow Bailiffs to monitor the courtroom and corridors as needed/desired.
A fifth possible application would be to allow some secure doors to be opened via the iPod. For example, by combining the security video output and electronic door control, a Bailiff could be notified on their iPod if say an attorney calls to be admitted to the secure judge’s chambers area.
Sixth, the Bailiff could carry photos of wanted or dangerous persons on their iPod for reference. If as is expected this winter, the iPod gains a camera capability they could also use it to take a photo of a “person of interest” to send to local law enforcement for research.
Last, a quick Google search found that an iPod Touch referred to as iTouch in the following message has already been used for school security:
1. A device that is small and light partially so that it cannot become a weapon
2. Battery power for a full work day
3. Wireless communications WiFi and/or cellular connection
4. Capable of quiet operation so as to not disturb the courtroom
5. An easy user interface
The result that we concluded from this short but demanding specification list was that either an Apple iPod Touch or an Apple iPhone could be an answer. And while we realize that there are other touch screen portable devices that available at this time, for sake of this discussion let’s use these two devices as the examples.
But before we get started, please note that the following scenarios pretty much requires a secure wireless WiFi network meaning that the network passwords are enabled and the data traffic is encrypted be installed throughout the courthouse. Many courthouses have or are already implementing WiFi and we expect that it will be close to universal in the next few years.
The first and most obvious use of the iPod type system would be for quiet communications. The iPod would allow the judge or judicial assistant to exchange messages via e-mail or some version of text messaging. Since there is no keyboard on the iPod, the Bailiff’s typing on the touch-screen would not be audible to the courtroom. This preserves the decorum of the courtroom and allows seamless communication with the Bailiff wherever they are in the courthouse.
A second possible use for the Bailiff’s iPod would be to notify the courtroom of the “queue” of defendants or parties who are ready for the judge. For criminal matters the Bailiffs may work with the detention officers as to which defendants are ready to be brought to the courtroom. Bailiffs also check with persons appearing at the courtroom as to the reason for their appearance. I am often rightly questioned when observing courtroom operations as to my presence. This allows Bailiffs to communicate the attendance to the court. We have seen this type of activity in the courtroom corridors before a court session. A wireless device that lists persons expected for that session would facilitate the check-in process with the court in and out of the courtroom.
A third possible use for a Bailiff’s handheld system could be as a detained defendant locator system. The goal of this function is to simply learn where detained defendants are located in the courthouse. In large courthouses there are many holding areas and persons are placed wherever practical. With a portable iPod Touch system there are a myriad of methods that a court could implement to keep track of detained persons and notify Bailiff’s quietly as to their location and status. A simple approach would be that defendant locations could be e-mailed/text messaged to all Bailiffs. But a more sophisticated approach would be to create a web page type application that everyone could see via the browser. This system could potentially be automatically updated from the iPod’s touch screen or via bar code – another article on this in the future.
A fourth possible application for the Bailiff’s iPod would be to view the security video system output. As more security video systems convert to digital IP based computer format, that output could be viewed by the Bailiff via the WiFi network again, with proper security. This provides an additional level of personal physical security since the Bailiff could visually check the holding area before entering. It would also allow Bailiffs to monitor the courtroom and corridors as needed/desired.
A fifth possible application would be to allow some secure doors to be opened via the iPod. For example, by combining the security video output and electronic door control, a Bailiff could be notified on their iPod if say an attorney calls to be admitted to the secure judge’s chambers area.
Sixth, the Bailiff could carry photos of wanted or dangerous persons on their iPod for reference. If as is expected this winter, the iPod gains a camera capability they could also use it to take a photo of a “person of interest” to send to local law enforcement for research.
Last, a quick Google search found that an iPod Touch referred to as iTouch in the following message has already been used for school security:
"I worked for a school district that issued the iTouch to each officer. They came equipped with each student from the officers school information. Schedule, locker number, picture, parents name, address, phone number etc. In addition all departmental emails could be received immediately. Next year the iTouches are due to be online with cameras throughout the district." (retrieved from http://forums.securityinfowatch.com/showthread.php?t=8035 )In conclusion, the proposed iPod based system would likely not replace a police band radio that many Bailiffs are equipped. But we believe that it provides some interesting additional possibilities. But we have almost always found that when we think we have thought of something original here at the NCSC, someone in the courts has already done it. If so, please let us share your story with here at the Court Tech Bulletin. And we’re looking forward to seeing the hi-tech Bailiff’s in the courthouse!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Alabama Courthouse Installs Videophones
An in-depth article posted on August 4, 2009 at the Sound and Video Contractor magazine website titled: Installation Spotlight: Limestone County courthouse, Alabama highlights the process and benefits that the court has experience from installation of videophones for initial appearance hearings. The article states:
"Limestone purchased six 7985G videophones—one for each judge, one for the jail, and one for an on-call Dell E6500 laptop system."
Some Cool New Tech - Late Summer Edition
This summer has seen some interesting tech hardware introductions. The first is a new touch/pen enabled e-Ink Reader Touch Edition from Sony for $299. A nice review of the system was posted on ZDNet Between the Lines column.
The second interesting new techno-toy is a new Asus Eee PC T91 Netbook that combines small size, light weight and the flexibility of a Tablet PC. The CNet Reviews website has an article and video on this new offering.
The second interesting new techno-toy is a new Asus Eee PC T91 Netbook that combines small size, light weight and the flexibility of a Tablet PC. The CNet Reviews website has an article and video on this new offering.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
CTC-2009 Website Sessions - Do you have the nerve?
CTC-2009 session panelists NCSC Web Content Editor/Manager, Pam Burton is asking for volunteers for a review of your courts website. They write:
Two sessions at the 2009 Court Technology Conference in September feature Web-savvy panelists who want to look at YOUR site and share some insights. Really!If you wish to read more and respond to Pam please go to THIS LINK. A short six-question survey form is available there if you want to volunteer.
And it costs you nothing, beyond the courage to be analyzed before an audience of your peers.
Have a look at the sessions below and submit your site by Friday, Sept. 4, if you would like to be considered for review. Both sessions are designed with theory and best practices up front -- how the sites we review are getting it right and/or how they could improve.
Justice Served Releases 2009 Top 10 Website Awards
The Court Technology Bulletin received a press release from Justice Served announcing the 2009 winners of their Top 10 Court Website Awards. To see the awards with links to the winners websites go to: http://justiceserved.com/top10sites.cfm
Friday, July 31, 2009
US Federal Courts on Internet Materials in Opinions
An article in the July, 2009 edition of the US Federal Court newsletter, The Third Branch, titled: Internet Material in Opinions: Citations and Hyperlinking notes recent work by The Judical Conference. The article states:
"The Judicial Conference has issued a series of suggested practices to assist courts in the use of Internet materials in opinions."One example of the guidelines is:
"If a webpage is cited, chambers staff preserve the citation by downloading a copy of the site&39;s page and filing it as an attachment to the judicial opinion in the Judiciary&39;s Case Management/Electronic Case Files System."
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Graphical Visualization Tools
There has been some very interesting work posted recently at Wolfram Research on graphical presentation of complex relationships. Everyday courts are faced with complex relationships such as those between family members as well as legal precident and cases. The Wolfram demonstrations show how these kinds of relationships might be displayed graphically to show both the whole and details of the issue. But it is difficult to explain how this works without seeing the demonstrations. The first demonstration, Geneology Graphs from XML allows for several different views of the descendants of first US President, George Washington. The demonstration can be found at: http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/GenealogyGraphsFromXML/
A second demonstration, shows graphically how common law legal cases cite one another can be viewed at:
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/SyntheticLegalPrecedentStructuresLevyFlight/
This exciting and interesting work deserves attention from the court community.
In order to interact with the demonstrations you will need to download and install the free Wolfram Mathematica Player 7. You may have to ask your system manager to allow you to do this if your PC is locked.
A second demonstration, shows graphically how common law legal cases cite one another can be viewed at:
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/SyntheticLegalPrecedentStructuresLevyFlight/
This exciting and interesting work deserves attention from the court community.
In order to interact with the demonstrations you will need to download and install the free Wolfram Mathematica Player 7. You may have to ask your system manager to allow you to do this if your PC is locked.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
NIEM 2.1
The July 2009 edition of the NIEM Newsletter contains an important article regarding the next release of the National Information Exchange Model NIEM designated as version 2.1. The article states that the "release candidate is expected to be released for public review and comment late this summer" with the final production release slated for debut in late September at the National NIEM Training Event. The Training Event is scheduled for Baltimore, Maryland from September 30 to October 2, 2009. The article also notes that this version includes an improvement on the structure for an offense in the Justice domain" as well as harmonization that has reduced many overlapping or duplicate data elements between domains and complete element definitions.
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