Mt Eden prison-court video link underway

A pilot project allowing some remand prisoners to appear in court by video link got off to a smooth start today.

The Government put $2 million in this year's budget for audio-visual equipment to be installed in some courts and prisons.

Officials started testing the technology between inmates at Auckland Remand Prison at Mt Eden and Auckland District Court this morning.

If adopted nationwide, the scheme is expected to save the Justice Department millions of dollars in transport and staff costs.

Ministry of Justice media adviser Hannah Hammond said the audio visual link (AVL) would focus on short appearances for remand prisoners from prison.

The Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010 came into effect on July 7, and the new legislation enables any person appearing in court to appear by AVL when certain criteria are met, she said.

AVL provided a range of benefits - reduced legal aid travel costs through lawyers taking instruction using AVL rather than visiting prisons, and a more structured approach to court timetabling which would lead to fewer delays, Ms Hammond said.

It would also improve quality of evidence by making it easier for witnesses to take part and to enable more efficient use of expert witnesses and interpreters.

The link would be used for defendants appearing for call-overs, bail applications, suppression hearings, electronic-monitoring bail applications, further remands (list appearances) and post-committal conferences.

While appearing in court by AVL, the defendant could see and hear what was happening in the court, and they could also see part of the public gallery.

In the public gallery, there were specific seats where family members, victims, or those interested in being seen by the defendant could sit, Ms Hammond said.

High profile criminal defence barrister Gary Gottlieb told NZPA it certainly had some merit.

"We'll wait and see how it goes but I think it will save a lot of mucking around.

"A lot of the inmates don't actually want to leave the prison just to come in to court just for an adjournment. Even though the downside is when they come into the court they see the lawyer and the judge and sometimes something gets resolved, but that won't be happening under this system.

"But I think there are more pluses than negatives," he said.

Mr Gottlieb said it was still important for lawyers to go to the prison to see their clients.

He said the new AVL would start off as a trial at Auckland District Court, and if successful, would be rolled out to other courts around the country.

"What's good about it is they have a designated person or persons at the prison who makes sure it runs properly, and sometimes a lack of staff in the past has been a problem to get hold of clients, so this will probably help quite a lot," Mr Gottlieb added.

The testing of the AVL would be monitored and reviewed after six months.

Auckland district court manager Kevin Robinson said the AVL launch in courtroom two today had gone "very smoothly".

- NZPA