NCJ Number
44784
Date Published
1977
Length
69 pages
Annotation
THE GUIDE PROVIDES NONTECHNICAL INFORMATION TO ASSIST COURT MANAGERS IN THE SELECTION, APPLICATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING EQUIPMENT.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH COURT MANAGERS ARE FREQUENTLY CONFRONTED WITH A VARIETY OF NEW TYPES OF EQUIPMENT, THEY DO NOT USUALLY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ASSESS THEM ADEQUATELY. THIS REPORT EXPLAINS THE BASICS OF AUDIO AND VIDEO TECHNOLOGY AND STRESSES THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES, TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR USING THESE ELECTRONIC RECORDING MACHINES IN THE COURTS. INFORMATION ON COURT OPERATIONS, EQUIPMENT USAGE, AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF EQUIPMENT WAS OBTAINED THROUGH SURVEYS OF OVER 350 STATE COURT JURISDICTIONS, SITE VISITS, A LITERATURE SEARCH, AND MEETINGS WITH DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT VENDORS. THE SECTION ON AUDIO RECORDING EQUIPMENT CONTAINS A BASIC DESCRIPTION OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF MICROPHONES, TAPE RECORDERS, AND TRANSCRIBERS AND A SUMMARY OF THE CAPABILITIES AND FEATURES ESSENTIAL IN A COURT RECORDING SYSTEM. AUDIO EQUIPMENT USES, PERSONNEL NEEDS, AND AUDIO REQUIREMENTS OF COURTS OF LIMITED AND GENERAL JURISDICTION ARE DISCUSSED. IMPORTANT OPERATING PROCEDURES SUCH AS EQUIPMENT PRETESTING, MONITORING, LOGGING, AND TRANSCRIBING ARE OUTLINED. COURT MANAGERS ARE ALSO INSTRUCTED IN COST ASSESSMENT AND ACQUISITION PROCEDURES. THERE IS A SIMILAR DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPONENTS, APPLICATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE OF VIDEOTAPE EQUIPMENT. UNIQUE ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE VIDEOTAPING PROCESS, SUCH AS COURT AUTHORIZATION OF THE RECORD, NOTIFICATION OF PARTICIPANTS, AND RECORD CERTIFICATION, ARE ALSO EXAMINED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A LIST OF RECOMMENDED AUDIO EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS, A SAMPLE STIPULATION FOR A VIDEOTAPE DEPOSITION FOR BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, RECOMMENDED VIDEOTAPE, VIDEO CAMERA, AND VIDEOTAPE RECORDER FEATURES, AND A SELECTED VIDEOTAPE BIBLIOGRAPHY. A GLOSSARY IS PROVIDED. (VDA)