Video In Courts Comes To Vanderhoof And Ft St James
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 1:36 PM
Victoria- Vanderhoof and Ft St James are about to get Video conferencing in their courts.
Videoconferencing is a unique option for these northern communities, which
experience some of the highest circuit court volumes and most severe
weather conditions in B.C. The service provides an alternative to in-person
appearances for court matters, providing flexibility for police, witnesses,
the accused and other parties who might otherwise have to travel
considerable distances.
Using videoconferencing may reduce court delays associated with
transporting prisoners for appearances in poor weather and other factors.
Court access improvements help ensure important cases, including child
protection matters and family disputes, are not subject to unnecessary
delays.
When an RCMP member attends court in another community, it can mean a
reduction in local policing. Enabling members to participate by
videoconference minimizes police "away" time. The technology also helps cut
down police time spent supervising Prince George Regional Correctional
Centre prisoners transferred to local RCMP cells while they are waiting to
appear in circuit court.
A court users’ committee, the first of its kind for circuit courts, will
help evaluate the project and suggest improvements. The committee includes
the judiciary, RCMP, legal counsel, sheriffs, court services staff, Justice
Education Society, the districts of Vanderhoof and Fort St. James and B.C.
Corrections.
The cost of the project is $30,000. This includes network upgrades,
installation and hardware.
Comments
It’s About Bloody Time! I can’t believe the ministry took this long to iron this out. Ten years ago they could have done this, probably at a cost of 15,000, and saved the taxpayer a couple million.
Im pretty sure the RCMP do not supervise prisoners in the cells at RCMP. They have civilian guards who do it.
Who do you think pays the guards? they area paid a whole whack of money for each prisoner.
Now, how about Valemount, Burns Lake, New Hazelbush, 100 mile, there are still a pile to set up. The overtime paid to get these criminals out to other areas is astronomical, yet they still lag behind.
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