TECHNOLOGY IN COURTROOM

Videotapes and Cameras in Courtroom and Jury Deliberation Room

Videotapes and Cameras in Courtroom and Jury Deliberation Room

Introduction

In the last century, the development in different technologies has grown progressively. Our society has progresses a lot further then it was a century ago. Humans have built different tools to make the daily jobs easier and faster. Over the past century, different inventions have and are still emerging from all over the world. As the technology is progressing, humans are thinking of more and more ways to modify, make them more advanced and even develop innovative technologies to perform the task even faster. Technology is being used in every sector nowadays; it has also been utilized in courtrooms and deliberation rooms. Technology use at trial has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. Software and hardware options are more numerous, more robust, less expensive and easier to use than ever before. There are several options to consider when selecting your trial technology products. The use of display technologies to visually show evidence to judge and jury is believed to enhance fact finder recollection and understanding and to decrease substantially the amount of trial time.

This paper discusses the use of cameras and videotapes in the courtroom and the deliberation room, as well as the trends and innovations in the criminal justice system.

Videotapes and Cameras in Courtroom and Jury Deliberation Room

Many technologies has been utilized in the courtrooms and the deliberation rooms, however, the use of cameras and video tapes has sparked a debate among the people. Many people believe that it be create a positive impact as it will make the people in the court room behave more civilly due to the presence of the camera. Others who oppose cameras insist that juror privacy is essential to the sanctity of the process. Cameras, they say, will skew the composition of juries by removing people who don't want to deliberate in front of them. And jurors who don't feel articulate or confident may be reluctant to speak out or take an unpopular stand, if they think their neighbors are watching and judging them. Furthermore, recording jury deliberations, opponents say, might encourage litigation and prolong what some feel is the already cumbersome process of appeals (Lederer, 2002).

But camera advocates say that the media can play a positive role. Many defense attorneys hope cameras will enhance jurors' sense of accountability. "The mere presence of a camera will keep people on their best behavior," says defense attorney Windi Akins. "Jurors won't be bullied by other jurors who want to strong-arm them into changing their vote." Judge Poe sees cameras as an extension of the tradition of open courtrooms. "We got away from the Star Chamber in England when people were tried in secrecy," he says (Kades, 2002).

As the English saying goes, justice must be well made and should give the impression of being well served. The public hearing is seen as a guarantee of consistency and impartiality of justice. More than a procedural principle, the open standard ...