New technology is already being used in courtrooms at the Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse. And more is expected to be installed soon. Judges have requested the county upgrade technology in four courtrooms. The request includes a new sound system (with the ability to turn on or off microphones as needed), installing a courtroom evidence presentation system in each courtroom, and upgrading the fiber in the courthouse for better connectivity and speed.
Members of the Vermilion County Board’s Finance and Personnel Committee heard the plans for the upgrade at their meeting last evening (Monday). The County was able to secure a grant totaling over $275-thousand dollars earlier to upgrade some equipment in the Circuit Clerk’s Office. Other improvements would cost $312,000 (or $78,000 per courtroom) under a bid that was received.
The equipment includes a central podium that allows attorneys to present their evidence which can be displayed on several monitors in the courtroom (judges bench, attorney tables, several monitors for the jury box, witness stand and judges clerk.) The equipment would also connect to the existing courtroom audio/visual carts.
The judge’s clerk could control which monitor(s) can view the evidence and which microphones would be turned on or off. The podium allows attorneys to connect their personal devices to share content from their smart phones, tablets and laptops (or they can use the laptop at the podium.)
The podium also has a document camera that allows attorneys to display any type of physical device and capture the evidence in digital form. A touch screen will allow the attorneys to digitally mark the image and draw attention to specific details.
Judges have requested a demonstration of the system before the county acts on whether to accept the $312,000 bid. Members of the committee were told the system is similar to what is currently being used at the Urbana federal courthouse.
