EVALUATION OF AUDIO RECORDING IN THE MASTERS AND CHANCERY COURTS - MARYLAND'S 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• NCJ Number: 19948
• Author(s): J M Greenwood
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 18 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-043-72
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE AND OPERATION OF THE EDISON AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEM USED BY THE COURTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SYSTEM.

Abstract

A ONE-DAY SITE VISIT TO THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MASTERS AND CHANCERY COURTS WAS ACCOMPLISHED. DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD WITH THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, CIRCUIT JUDGES, AND MASTER'S OF DOMESTIC RELATIONS AND JUVENILE COURT. THE EVALUATION INCLUDED EXAMINATION OF EXISTING AUDIO RECORDING PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT, COURTROOM FACILITIES, DATA COLLECTION OF CASELOAD AND TRANSCRIPT DEMAND. EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE EDISON AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEM DID NOT PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE AND RELIABLE RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE COURT PURCHASE EITHER ONE OF TWO AKAI AUDIO SYSTEMS - A COMBINATION OF AKAI 1730 D-SS AND AKAI GX 280 D-SS RECORDERS - OR BAIRDATOMIC MR600-4 AUDIO SYSTEMS WITH THE NECESSARY ACCESSORIES. OTHER SUGGESTIONS INCLUDED ENCOURAGING JUDGES TO PROPERLY CONTROL COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR RECORDING PURPOSES AND ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS FOR THE PROPER LOGGING AND INDEXING OF THE AUDIO RECORD OF COURT PROCEEDINGS BY THE COURT CLERK. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)