LANSING – Thanks to the use of videoconferencing technology to virtually transport prisoners into 780 courtrooms across the state, the Department of Corrections has saved $14.7 million since implementation in 2010, according to the Michigan Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court announced savings are expected to grow from $4.3 million in fiscal year 2015, up to $4.8 million in fiscal year 2016, as the state continues to expand the technology into every courtroom with a judge by the end of 2016.
This technology allows incarcerated defendants to participate in court proceedings via video instead of being transported to the courts.
“By facilitating the virtual transport of prisoners for routine hearings, videoconferencing is saving money and reducing risk statewide for the Department of Corrections,” Chief Justice Robert Young Jr. said in a prepared statement. “Beyond the cost savings, benefits to local law enforcement include freeing up officers to focus on road patrol and other duties to enhance public safety.”
Videoconferencing technology has already been fully implemented in 81 of Michigan’s 83 counties, with Wayne and Washtenaw counties expected to have total implementation by the end of the year.
Since the creation of the program in 2010, more than 18,000 state prisoners have been brought into courtrooms by video, and the Supreme Court will look for ways to expand the program into more types of cases in September’s public hearing.
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