Fair warning. . .this blog will not answer the question, but just organize some thoughts as to where we are right now. We are a common pleas court system with two common pleas judges, a juvenile/probate judge, a domestic relations magistrate, and two juvenile magistrates. We service a population of approximately 70,000 although 20,000 of those are students who are predominately present during the school year.
We currently use CourtView. Being somewhat technology savvy, I've picked up how to use it. But I'm also savvy enough to know I am not using it to its full potential. I also know I don't like programs that you have to open a secondary software reader to read what you are pulling up from the main database CourtView utilizes.
In looking at possible upgrades to our data collection and storage, I know that people have different opinions as to what is important. But it is clear what the most important feature is. . . .ease of use. Ease of use translates to less stress using the software, less stress switching over, less stress recalling information in a new format, less stress finding information, less stress in correcting information, and perhaps most important - less time training to use the new software.
Then you are looking at different software systems that accomplish different things. I'll try to set them forth here...
Case Management - Allows user to enter, maintain and retrieve case information including financial information (payment on fines, bonds). So these are the systems that will give you your docket sheets, tell you what a person's current bond is, what fine they owe, what payments have been made. They also allow you to recall the filed pleadings in the case.
Caseflow Management - Allows users quick access to day to day schedules of hearings and information in a "Dashboard" format. The most useful I have seen are systems that provide access through touchscreens so data can be called up by touch and keyboard input.
Electronic Filing (E-Filing) - Another part of the system that allows attorneys to file documents electronically. This is usually separate from the other two items discussed above. However, it seems that if a system allows e-filing, the software should be putting it in a format that it can be used by the Case Management System and the Caseflow Management. Here's an more in depth breakdown per Wikipedia www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Filing_System
Considerations:
1) Data Transfer/Compatibility - transfer of information from an existing system to the new system. Case Management people can do this for you as part of the cost of a new system (I hear).
2) Cost - staggering costs to keep pace with technology. Probably not as much of a problem with metropolitan areas as rural areas as the revenue needed for this is usually court revenue driven. Smaller jurisdiction simply don't have the financial resources to change systems to keep pace. I think the gap is widening as time goes on leaving smaller jurisdictions behind.
3) Long term storage - remember the old big books used in the recorders office that may be 100 years old. They've held up pretty good right. Well digital technology is not infallible. Discounting hacking, just long term storage degrades as we learned at the last court tech conference. even those CD's that have been sitting on the shelves for years may only have a good 10-20 year shelf life. And you better make sure your old technology is comparable with your new. How many of us have floppies or magnetic tapes used to store information. Have you transferred that over yet to new technology?
BTW - magnetic cassette tapes have been created by SONY that store ridiculous amounts of data upwards of 185 TB. That's Terabytes Folks!
Just some random thoughts . . .. More to follow. . .
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
Ohio Court Technology Conference Review
The Court Technology Committee of the Ohio Judicial Conference successfully co-hosted a conference with the Ohio Association of Court Administrators and the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association in May, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. We were able to bring together approximately 40 national vendors supplying cutting edge technology used by the Courts throughout the nation as well as Ohio.
If you work in the court system at all, you probably know that the move is to migrate to a paperless system and the future is closer than you think. Right now a lot of effort is going to converting the courts' current paper system to a manageable paperless/scannable/readable storage type system. Three is no particular standard and companies are competing offering their respective products as the most user friendly and efficient.
The number of vendors were almost split between providing hardware and software. Hardware included electronic monitoring devices, new ankle bracelets with GPS technology (Veritrax) and some with cell phone technology, alcohol interlock devices for vehicles, and alcohol/drug testing sample collection and screening improvements among other things.
Software vendors included case management and court administration tools. There included Tyler Technologies, Courtview, AMCAD, and Legal Solutions. Others focused on document management and e-filing that organizes the documents to interface with the case management systems. These included Pioneer, AMCAD and others.
The format gave vendors to showcase their items it the traditional both format. However, we did add an extra component by giving preferred vendors specific time slots to present a presentation to a target group in a conference room.
The Ohio Judicial Conference Court Technology Committee recognizes that these purchases are typically expensive one time purchases for governmental entities. It is our hope that we can bring together a sufficient amount of choices for those involved in the procurement process, so that it helps you make an informed choice based on your entities specific needs.
Additionally, the different associations were able to interact as some of the considerations for judges, court administrators and clerks are usually overlapping but sometimes each segment requires a different consideration for how they need to use or extract information.
Vendors with feedback on the conference or suggestions or for future conferences may contact Judge George P. McCarthy (Court Technology Committee - OJC) at judgegeorgemccarthy@gmail.com.
Attendees (or perspective attendees) with feedback on the conference or suggestions or for future conferences may contact Judge George P. McCarthy (Court Technology Committee - OJC) at judgegeorgemccarthy@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Judge George P. McCarthy
OJC - Technology Conference Committee
#judgegeorgemccarthy #OJCcourttechcommittee
A complete list of vendors, webpage links, and their contacts follow if interested in more information:
Friday, May 16, 2014
Ohio Court Technology Conference a Success!
Judge George P. McCarthy is a member of the Court Technology Committee of the Ohio Judicial Conference. This OJC committee just hosted the Ohio Court Technology Conference in conjunction with the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association and the Ohio Association of Court Administrators. This is the first conference of its type to be jointly held to include these groups. It was well attended and a great success!
The purpose of the conference is to bring together officials from the court system to collectively work together to review cutting edge technology to help streamline services to the public.
Judge McCarthy is reviewing technology options and software packages for use at the Athens Courthouse in an effort to enhance services to the public and to increase judicial efficiency.
The purpose of the conference is to bring together officials from the court system to collectively work together to review cutting edge technology to help streamline services to the public.
Judge McCarthy is reviewing technology options and software packages for use at the Athens Courthouse in an effort to enhance services to the public and to increase judicial efficiency.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Ohio Combined Court Technology Conference
The Ohio Court Technology Conference is coming up May 15, 2014 7:30 am -3:15 pm in Columbus, Ohio
Crowne Plaza Columbus North, Columbus Ohio
This conference is for judges, court administrators, clerks, IT managers, bailiffs, probation officers: anyone who works with or makes decisions about court technology. Speakers will touch on an array of topics relevant to many aspects of technology in the court system, highlighting numerous vendor presentations throughout the day. Ample time will be given between presentations to visit vendor booths as well. Attendance is only $25 for an attendee, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch, flash drive, and all conference materials.
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