Through a grant from the State Justice Institute, the NCSC surveyed the use of video conferencing in state courts across the country.  This page contains the results of our findings on various topics, including:  Sources of funding for video conferencing systems; extent of video for various types of proceedings; and statutes governing the use of video conferencing.

Summary information

Here's a brief overview of the survey results:

Video Conferencing Survey Summary (PDF format) 

Video Conferencing Survey Summary (Powerpoint 2007 format)

Video conferencing rules and statutes

These files list rules and statutes related to video conferencing categorized according to state and case type.

Excel 2007 format - The Excel 2007 version contains a pivot table for quick retrieval of information of interest.

Excel 2003 format

Questions and response charts
(Cells with a light blue background indicate a PDF file download.)
	How long has your court or state been using video conferencing?
	Please indicate whether any of the following were impediments or issues in your implementation of a video conferencing system. (Please check all that apply.) If you experienced no impediments to the implementation of a video conferencing system, please check "None."
	Please indicate whether any of the following were impediments or issues in your implementation of a video conferencing system. (Please check all that apply.) If you experienced no impediments to the implementation of a video conferencing system, please check "None." (Other responses)
	Aside from a courtroom, what other areas of a courthouse are equipped to facilitate video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.)
	Aside from a courtroom, what other areas of a courthouse are equipped to facilitate video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses)
	To what other institutions does your court or state connect via video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.)
	To what other institutions does your court or state connect via video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses)
	Aside from court proceedings, for what other purposes does your court or state use video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.)
	Aside from court proceedings, for what other purposes does your court or state use video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses)
	Please list the approximate percentages each funding source listed below contributed to the video conferencing system installation expenses in your court or state.
	Please list the approximate percentages each funding source listed below contributed to the video conferencing system installation expenses in your court or state. (Other responses)
	Please list the approximate percentages each funding source listed below contributes to the video conferencing system line cost expenses in your court or state.
	Please list the approximate percentages each funding source listed below contributes to the video conferencing system line cost expenses in your court or state. (Other responses)
	What unit of government provides support and maintenance for the video conferencing system in your court or state?
	What unit of government provides support and maintenance for the video conferencing system in your court or state? (Other responses)
	For which of the following case types does your court use video conferencing?
	For which of the following types of criminal proceedings does your court utilize video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.)
	For which of the following types of criminal proceedings does your court utilize video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses)
	Please place a check next to each criminal proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use.
	Please place a check next to each criminal proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use. (Other responses)
	For which of the following types of civil proceedings does your court use video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.)
	Please place a check next to each civil proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use.
	For which of the following types of civil proceedings does your court use video conferencing? (Other responses) and Please place a check next to each civil proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use. (Other responses)
	For which of the following types of family proceedings does your court use video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.)
	Please place a check next to each family proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use.
	For which of the following types of family proceedings does your court use video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses) and Please place a check next to each family proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use. (Other responses)
	For which of the following types of appellate proceedings does your court use video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.)
	Please place a check next to each appellate proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use.
	For which of the following types of appellate proceedings does your court use video conferencing? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses) and Please place a check next to each appellate proceeding if there is a statutory authority that governs its use. (Other responses)
	How is privacy of communications between a defendant and counsel ensured when counsel joins the defendant in the correctional facility?
	How is privacy of communications between a defendant and counsel ensured when counsel joins the defendant in the correctional facility? (Other responses)
	How is privacy of communications between a defendant and counsel ensured when counsel attends the video conference in the courtroom?
	How is privacy of communications between a defendant and counsel ensured when counsel attends the video conference in the courtroom? (Other responses)
	How is privacy of communications between a defendant and counsel ensured when counsel joins the video conference from a private office or other location?
	How is privacy of communications between a defendant and counsel ensured when counsel joins the video conference from a private office or other location? (Other responses)
	Does your court or state use music or "white noise" in the courtroom to ensure privacy during defendant/counsel conversations?
	Are private attorneys allowed to use the video conferencing system?
	Are private attorneys allowed to use the video conferencing system? (Other responses)
	When a defendant is appearing on a video conference from a remote location, how does the defendant’s attorney appear? (Please check all that apply.)
	When a defendant is appearing on a video conference from a remote location, how does the defendant’s attorney appear? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses)
	Does the video conferencing system provide for judges to sign documents and transmit them between the courthouse and a remote facility?
	What other options are available for transmitting signed documents between the courthouse and remote facility? (Please check all that apply.)
	What other options are available for transmitting signed documents between the courthouse and remote facility? (Please check all that apply.) (Other responses)
	How are video conference proceedings recorded?
	How are video conference proceedings recorded? (Other responses)
	For what types of proceedings, and how often, does your court or state use telephone conferencing?
	How often do problems with the video conferencing system require downtime for maintenance or repairs?
	How often do problems with the video conferencing system require downtime for maintenance or repairs? (Other responses)
	What are the most common problems associated with the video conferencing system in your court or state?
	On average, how long does the video conferencing system downtime last?
	On average, how long does the video conferencing system downtime last? (Other responses)
	If the video conferencing system fails, do you use telephone conferencing as a temporary substitute?
	If the video conferencing system fails, do you use telephone conferencing as a temporary substitute? (Other responses)
	Generally, what technology does the video conferencing system use?
	Generally, what technology does the video conferencing system use? (Other responses)
	Does your court or state currently use high definition video conferencing?
	Does your court or state currently use desktop/PC-based video conferencing?
	How are software or new video file format updates handled as they relate to archived video conference records?
	How are software or new video file format updates handled as they relate to archived video conference records? (Other responses)
	Please indicate whether you experienced difficulties with any of the following physical components of the video conferencing system:
	Please describe any other physical installation difficulties you may have experienced.
	Since implementing video conferencing has your court, or have other agencies, realized monetary savings in any of the following categories? (Please check all that apply.)
	Can you give percentage or dollar estimates of the savings your court or state has realized through video conferencing, or discuss other benefits and costs realized?
	Overall, do you feel that videoconferencing helps or hinders the administration of justice in your court or state?
	Please explain your answer to the above.

This website was developed under a grant from the State Justice Institute. Points of view expressed herein are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the official position of the State Justice Institute.