Jefferson (Ky) County To Add Video Link Between Courts, Lab Analysts
Video technology will be used in Jefferson County, Ky., to allow crime lab analysts to testify without leaving their offices. The equipment will increase the amount of time they have to work cases, as testifying currently takes about 10 percent of their time, according to Kentucky State Police (KSP) officials.
KSP crime labs Commander Capt. Tom Porter says that the analysts often have to travel and wait for hours to either not testify at all or be on the stand for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Pike County has seen lab analysts spend 50 percent less time on court appearances since using video technology, Porter notes.
Courtrooms in Kentucky have used the technology since 1989, mostly so inmates can appear in court without leaving local jails. Video technology is available in 33 counties, and Administrative Office of Courts Technology Supervisor Glenn Dempsey explains that requests for video systems began to grow over 10 years ago as courtroom security became a higher priority.
All newly constructed Kentucky courthouses are equipped with the technology and the ability to link to other facilities. Linkage to the six KSP crime labs requires the courthouse systems to be networked with a data line, and 17 more counties are building court facilities that will be outfitted with the systems.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Louisville Courier Journal (KY) (07/20/04) P. 5A; Halladay, Jessie.