Video conferencing streamlines justice system

Published 5:45 am Sunday, July 6, 2014

Since December, a high-tech video conferencing system has been saving taxpayer money and improving the speed of justice, according to the magistrate judge who spearheaded the implementation of the new system.

“I had been working on this for about 10 years because it’s a more efficient way for us to process warrants and process inmates,” said Lowndes County Magistrate Judge Joni Parker.

When the Lowndes County information technology department came to Parker last year with news that a video-conferencing system for obtaining warrants might be a possibility, she was elated. The system is designed to make obtaining warrants more efficient.

“The old way, well, investigators would investigate to determine if a crime had been committed, then they would write up a report, type up the application and then submit it to the court for processing,” said Parker. “Then we would take their report and type up the warrant. So, there was a lot of double keying, and then the officers would have to sit up here and wait until a judge was available.”

The video system streamlines that old process which Parker believes saves everyone time and money.

“Now, with the new system, there is no double-keying. The officers write the warrants themselves for the case, and we just access the case,” said Parker. “Then we talk to the officers on the video.”

The video component of the system is crucial. Georgia law does not permit official oaths to be given via telephone, but does allow it via video-conferencing call. Parker is able to swear in officers at a computer in her office while the officer in the field uses a laptop and a webcam to give the oath at the scene where a search warrant needs to be executed.

“It’s definitely more convenient, especially during the weekends. Instead of having to drive out to the judge’s home, we can do it right from the police department,” said Sgt. Holly Vickers during a video-conferencing call from the Valdosta Police Department to Parker’s office.

Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress also realized the benefits of this system and secured a grant to implement it for his department. The system at the magistrate court was purchased through county funds.

“The fuel cost alone is astronomical. The long-term fuel costs add up,” said Childress. “And it speeds up what we need to do to solve crimes. The first 48 hours are important. I’m on a time constraint, and the clock is ticking. A lot of things I need to do I have to go through a judge to do them, and if I need a search warrant, I need it fast.”

Obtaining a search warrant using the old system could take up to two hours, said Childress. Now, a search warrant can be obtained in less than 30 minutes.

“Right after we got the system, we had a shooting in Valdosta, and they were investigating and needed to get into the victim’s house, but there was no one there to give permission,” said Parker. “Officers were able to use one of their laptops on scene and call the on-call judge at home, and they were able to show the judge probable cause for the search warrant.”

In that case, a warrant was signed and printed at the scene within 30 minutes, said Parker.

“They are speeding up what we need to do to solve crimes,” said Childress. “Her staff has set a good example of how the county and all the cities should work together for the common good.”

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Valdosta State University Police Department have the video systems in their buildings, and Hahira, Lake Park, Remerton and the Georgia State Patrol are looking into adding systems in the upcoming budget year, said Parker.

Until then, Parker said agencies without the system have been using the nearest video-conferencing terminal.

“It sure is nice to see VSU officers and Remerton officers and VPD all walking through each others’ buildings for the common good,” said Childress.

In addition to securing search warrants, the system allows officers to scan and share documents like witness statements with the judges as well as photographs of evidence. The system is also used for bond hearings and preliminary hearings that used to require a judge traveling to the jail or an inmate to be transported to appear in court.

“There are two judges here, and we try to be available all the time, but we can’t be in two places at one time,” said Parker. “This system is a great time-saving, money-saving program.”