Justice Department, Southern Europe
Based in one of the largest cities in Europe, the justice department serves its country and its population by incarcerating men and women who are a threat to its citizens. Employing several thousand individuals, the department specializes in judicial, civil, criminal and juvenile administration, as well as administration for the prison.
When an individual is admitted to a prison for an act of violence, theft, homicide or any other serious crime, they are considered a threat to others and must be removed from society. However, when it comes time for them to face their deeds in a formal courtroom trial, they are removed from their cell and transported to the court. Not only is this process costly, as transportation and fuel expenses add up, it is also taking an unnecessary risk by bringing this dangerous individual out into the public, beyond prison walls, where security measures are naturally lessened.
The justice department decided to implement a new form of technology during trials to reduce costs and ensure citizen safety: video conferencing. By utilizing video, individuals can remain in maximum security during their trial while still being able to actively participate. Unfortunately, when this system was first implemented, the picture quality of standard definition video conferencing was less than ideal. Problems began to mount and the department was desperate for a new, updated technology.
The country’s justice department turned to LifeSize, known as a pioneer and world leader in the industry. LifeSize was the first to introduce high-definition video conferencing to the world, a solution that the department desperately needed to replicate lifelike experiences. By working closely with the vendor and local reseller, the justice organization found the solution they were looking for: crystal-clear, high definition picture quality.
“The images were clearer and sharper than I could have ever imagined,” said a representative from the department. “I felt comfortable using this technology during trials because it truly simulated an in-person interaction.”
Soon after they were introduced to LifeSize technology, the department purchased over 600 LifeSize Room endpoints to be placed in courtrooms, prisons and other offices. Installation was a breeze, despite the large amount of systems that were deployed. The user interface was intuitive enough to be easily understood on the first try and as a result, very few attorneys, judges or prison guards had any technical issues.
Because the court system was already familiar with video conferencing through their standard definition systems, adoption was seamless as they transitioned to HD. The only difference was the vast improvement in picture quality.
“LifeSize impressed me from start to finish,” said the representative. “Everything about their technology is incredible and we believe it has improved our judicial process.”
Not only has the court system saved on transportation costs, they have also been able to improve security measures by keeping individuals incarcerated during their trial. This minimizes the risk of harm to prison guards and reduces the chance of any unforeseen security problems.
Another important aspect of the technology is the fact that it can provide a lifelike experience for the prisoner, as if they were in the same room as the judge and jury. That way, they are still fully aware of the processes that are taking place and can easily provide testimony and observe the jury. Nothing is taken away from the individual in order for them to receive a fair trial, to which they are due under the law.
“We are very pleased with our decision to invest in LifeSize,” said the representative. “It has helped us provide better service to our citizens, both to those who are incarcerated and other citizens whose safety is of the utmost importance.”
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Click here to download the PDF of this case study.
LifeSize HD video communications enable the judical process to be secure, timely and rapid - saving taxpayer dollars and minimizing risk. Read more about Telejustice and other LifeSize applications and solutions for government.