Circuit Court

 

 Judges at St. Louis Circuit Court are proving that with the right technology dockets can move faster and courtrooms can become more efficient.

 

With the flick of a switch closed-circuit hookups at the Justice Center and MSI allow criminal defendants to appear before a judge without the time and expense of transporting them to the courthouse.

 

“We’re not really doing things any differently, they’re still appearing. I still have to fit them into my regular docket call they’re just appearing on the Polycom,” said Division 26 Judge Michael Stelzer.  “But we’re cutting down on the amount of time getting them here and by and large I think it’s a great step forward. I’m thrilled with how it’s working.”

 

Polycom is the flat screen monitor that sits on the judge’s bench.  One by one defendants on that day’s docket step in front of a similar monitor installed in a holding area at the jail.  A built-in camera lens means the judge can see them and they can see the judge.

 

The ease and convenience of Polycom was discovered three years ago by the Probate Division, where mentally ill patients are ordered for treatment to a psychiatric unit.  BJC, St. Louis’ largest provider of in-patient psychiatric services, suggested Probate start using Polycom and even paid for that initial hookup. It has saved the hospital the expense of transporting patients and staff by ambulance to the courtroom for those routine hearings.

 

Judge Stelzer is the first to use the monitors in an arraignment division but other areas of the courthouse are now looking into Polycom to see how the technology can be used to save time and money.

 

Circuit Court

City of St. Louis