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Thursday, December 22, 2005
Ind. Courts - Porter County adding cameras to courtrooms
"Porter County adding cameras to courtrooms" is the headline to this somewhat confusing story by Jim Stinson in the Gary Post-Tribune.
Or maybe it is only the headline that makes it confusing. Perhaps the headline should read "Porter County adding security cameras to courtrooms."
Some quotes:
VALPARAISO — Porter County’s courts will add video cameras to ensure security, commissioners announced this week.Commissioners are also hoping to save money by using the technology to set up more video conferences between judges and inmates. * * *
The manpower used for arraignments is a concern in Porter County’s courts, Harper said. Most of the expense comes from transportation, officials said.
While inmates are usually handcuffed, courtrooms rely entirely on Porter County Courthouse security police and their X-ray and metal detector machines on the first floors.
Currently, there is only one video camera in a courtroom — in Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa’s courtroom.
Judge David Chidester said Alexa’s predecessor, Judge Thomas W. Webber, was on the forefront of video security in courtrooms. Chidester said Webber received permission to install the cameras.
Permission from the Indiana Supreme Court for the security cameras will ultimately be needed for Porter County’s three other Valparaiso courtrooms and the two in the Portage annex.
[Judge David Chidester of Porter Superior Court No. 4] said the Indiana Supreme Court generally does not allow cameras in courtrooms.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 22, 2005 07:49 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts