A first court appearance may soon be handled through a video system in Hempstead County allowing judges to make the decisions while an inmate is still behind bars.
“The system when installed will eliminate the need for an inmate to be taken out of a secure facility and transported to the courthouse for their first appearance,” Hempstead County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy James Singleton said.
Singleton said the system will improve the efficiency of the arraignment process while reducing the risks associated with confrontation, escape, and the smuggling of contraband.
“With the audio/video arraignment system, a judge can arraign individuals from the courtroom, chambers, or his office. This enhances the security of the general public,” Singleton said. “With the way things are today, we have to assign two detention officers to walk them up. They have to get them ready, make sure they do not have anything on them when they go or when they come back.
He said the system is a split screen system where the inmate’s attorney can be in the courtroom as well through adjusting of cameras.
“It will not take away from the first appearance, it will probably speed the process up quite a bit,” he said.
The overall cost of the system will be close to $24,000, but the county hopes to receive grant funds to cover $15,000. Singleton said all the paperwork deadlines have been met and they could be dispersed by June.
Singleton said they have not seen a lot of incidents which fostered the need for the system, but he believes the process is very good for speeding the arraignment process plus enhancing public safety.
Singleton reported 78,604 people passes through the security checkpoint at the courthouse in 2009, not counting inmates brought from the jail.
Deputies checked approximately 6,920 purses and briefcases, 1,312 other container types, 2,129 knives, 1300 cell phones, and made 8, 590 trips to the back door of the courthouse to assist persons with special needs to enter the courthouse. Singleton said when the inmates are moved around and come in contact with the public there is more risk of smuggling these type things into the jail.
He said the security check station is manned by two county deputies and two deputies are assigned as bailiffs who provide security inside each courtroom when court is in session.
Singleton said he is not aware of any systems such as this being used nearby. He is familiar with some in the Oklahoma court systems.
