It’s May, and Mobility is Blossoming!
I was out for a walk with my kids the other day, enjoying the Michigan Spring, and thinking to myself how ironic it is that now, when most of us are home more than ever, mobility is blossoming.
Before the Coronavirus pandemic, remote access to case files, electronic signatures, digital evidence management and online dispute resolutions were perks. If the Judge wanted to sign orders from his home office, he could look into the option, but it wasn’t something he needed or, maybe, even wanted.
Today, however, mobility is a necessity.
The stay-at-home mandates will eventually expire, yes. But the way of the world will be very different, especially for courtrooms – small spaces that usually host sizable groups of people. It may take quite some time before people are ready to reconvene in closely confined environments. And even if we all do resurface our comfort for shared public spaces soon, essential operations (such as the justice system) should always be prepared to flip the switch to an exclusively remote operation. Just like the COVID crisis, we’ll never know when we must, again, pack up shop on a dime’s notice.
And still, given the pandemic’s abrupt uprooting, the courts have shown tremendous resilience. Many had no prior remote capabilities and still stood up temporary, mobile operations in just a matter of days. Had everyone not been so quick to their feet and dedicated to seeing through essential case types, this effort would not have been possible. These efforts have been truly heroic for our nation’s justice system.
Unlike our commendable Court Clerks, Judges, Admins and other Court personnel, many of these pieced-together solutions, including remote hearings through Zoom and other video-call platforms, cannot commit to such longevity. These means of communication are disparate, making for clunky, time-consuming processes, and unable to meet compliance standards for safeguarding sensitive information. Of course, these practices work for the time being but, as we look forward to returning to a new, continuously more remote, normal, they cannot be sustained.
Mobility itself, however, endures.
As you’ll read in the materials complimenting this newsletter, the concept of a primarily remote court is not only possible – it’s an enjoyable reality for Courts who are equipped with the proper tools. Blueprinted specifically for court mobility, many component-model solutions offer best-in-class capabilities that account for every step in the court process, from communication with law enforcement and prosecutors to final rulings. Not only is this increased mobility a key element in the court’s business continuity plan, but leaning into a more remote world elevates the entire justice system to higher ground. It’s a responsible step toward shortening the life cycle of cases, giving Court staff more time and opportunity to focus on the human element of their careers, and offering more data integrity and auditable transparency than ever before.
It’s truly been an honor to participate in the future needs of court technology. Being forced to accelerate the adoption of mobile capabilities has not been easy, but I can see that, in the long run, it will sow more fruitful seeds for courts and the publics they serve.
Stay well, and we’ll talk soon.
Steve
Like Comfort Food, the Component Model is Always in Season
You’re probably not ready to even “remotely” (see what we did there?) think about the holidays, but comfort food is always in season and, thankfully, so is the component model. We hope you’ll enjoy some food for thought on the Court solution that is designed to work with existing systems to serve the Court’s timely, customized needs with best-in-class tools at a nearly Black Friday values.
Read the blog post
“Justice Knows No Quarantine” as a Podcast
This podcast is from our April 2020 webinar, “Justice Knows No Quarantine” with Jim McMillan from the National Center for State Courts. Jim, Scott Bade and Brad Smith hosted a panel discussion addressing the current challenges of civil and criminal courts, mitigation options that can be implemented in the next 45 days or less, what courts should be doing as we come return to a new normal, and how to overcome procurement obstacles when moving forward with these opportunities.
Listen to the podcast
Mobility. Because Checking Court Dates Shouldn’t Interfere with Dinner Dates.
Story-telling a real-life scenario we’ve all been in, Hon. Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court, opens her Courts Today article with a perfect illustration of how easy life truly is with mobile access to Courts.
The article reports that, in 2018, mobile users surpassed desktop users, which was testament to the more than 30,000 downloads of Cook County’s mobile app. Prior to Coronavirus, conversations around court technology were already headed down the mobility path, aware that easy, remote access was important to upcoming generations and most convenient for the public. But as communities across the nation rebuild a new normal, remote access and digital case documents, as opposed to paper filings and frequent courthouse visits, will be the safest, preferred process. No longer just an option, mobility will be a key element in shaping the future of secure, streamlined court technology.
What Can We Do For You?
ImageSoft guides courts through the various challenges of becoming a paperless court. Our industry-leading solutions offer a component model methodology to automated workflows, improved speed and efficiency, reduced costs and proper compliance.
ImageSoft is ready to help your court system reap the benefits from digital transformation.