VIDEO TELEPHONE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE - THE PHOENIX (AZ) PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 50394
• Author(s): W A ELIOT
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 3 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PROJECT INVESTIGATED THE IMPACT OF USING A VIDEO TELEPHONE NETWORK IN THE DAILY BUSINESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY IN PHOENIX, ARIZ., AND EXPLORED ISSUES AFFECTING ACCEPTANCE OF THE TELEPHONE.

Abstract

MEASUREMENTS, OBSERVATIONS, AND CALCULATIONS WERE DERIVED FROM THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND MARICOPA COUNTY AFTER A VIDEO TELEPHONE NETWORK HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND OPERATED FOR A 16-MONTH PERIOD. THE PROJECT WAS SPONSORED BY THE LEAA. MEASUREMENTS OF VIDEO TELEPHONE USAGE AND LABOR SAVINGS FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS CONSTITUTED THE HARD DATA ON ACCEPTANCE. OBSERVATIONS OF THE REACTIONS OF DEFENDANTS AND PRACTITIONERS, COUPLED WITH THE HARD DATA, LED TO CONCLUSIONS ABOUT ADVANTAGES AND PROBLEMS LIKELY TO RESULT FROM EXPANDED USE. SIGNIFICANT USAGE OCCURRED FOR SOME APPLICATIONS, AND ONLY MINOR USAGE OCCURRED FOR OTHERS. THE VIDEO TELEPHONE WAS USED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OVER TWO-THIRDS OF ALL CONTACTS BETWEEN PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND JAILED CLIENTS AND FOR ALMOST 90 PERCENT OF ALL NOT GUILTY ARRAIGNMENTS OF JAILED DEFENDANTS. IT WAS EMPLOYED ALSO FOR ALL DAILY CENTRAL CALENDAR CALLS AND, MOST SIGNIFCANTLY, FOR REMOTE TESTIMONY IN A NUMBER OF PRELIMINARY HEARINGS AND TRIALS. SUCH USE ESTABLISHED THAT, EVEN WITHOUT LEGAL PRECEDENCE, THERE WAS A HIGH DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE VIDEO TELEPHONE. LABOR SAVINGS ESTIMATED FROM THIS ACCEPTANCE, WHEN BALANCED AGAINST THE ESTIMATED FUTURE LEASE COST OF THE VIDEO TELEPHONE, SUGGESTED A NET SAVINGS POTENTIAL. KEY ISSUES THAT SURFACED IN MIXED REACTIONS OF DEFENDANTS AND PRACTITIONERS TO THE VIDEO TELEPHONE INCLUDED THE DEFENDANT'S PERCEPTION OF LOSS OF PRIVACY AND PERSONALITY OF CONTACT WITH HIS OR HER ATTORNEY, THE PRACTITIONER'S CONCERN FOR THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF REMOTE CONFRONTATION, AND THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERN ABOUT THE FURTHER SEPARATION OF THE COMMUNITY FROM THE REALITY OF THE DEFENDANT'S WORLD. IN NOT GUILTY ARRAIGNMENTS OF INCUSTODY DEFENDANTS, THERE WERE SOME COMPLAINTS FROM DEFENDANTS ABOUT THE LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEIR SIDE TO THE JUDGE. (DEP)