Connected Courtrooms Provide Enhanced Privacy
When the pandemic first hit, the judicial system came to a screeching halt. Social distancing made it difficult to conduct traffic court, divorce and family proceedings, or even to gavel trial juries. That’s all changed now.
Court systems, such as Elkhart County’s, introduced collaboration solutions to connect offenders to the courtroom from prisons without the need for physical transfers. The integrity of the constitutional judicial process could be maintained while adding a new element to the mix: enhanced privacy.
All hearings, trials and proceedings could now be securely streamed live, with evidence only shown to those who need to see it. Offenders, who are innocent until proven guilty, no longer have to wait in the public eye while shackled and wearing correctional uniforms. Perhaps most important, victims can testify from wherever they feel safe, surrounded by loved ones instead of strangers.
Government Employees Also Benefit from Collaborative Tools
Governments can be slow to leverage new technology, but in the face of adversity, agencies adapt and often lead other industries in new technology adoption. This is much more than just implementing a new collaboration solution; it requires a holistic approach that starts with securing and improving network infrastructure. This is the foundation of digital services and hybrid work.
After all, government services require a high degree of privacy that makes them a prime target for potential cyberattacks. This requires secure access, built around a zero-trust approach and powered by software-defined WAN technology for efficient application access. Additionally, multifactor authentication applications make sure the right people access the right documents from the right places.
EXPLORE: The audio and visual technology upgrades courthouses are making.
Once the network is secure and modern applications are leveraged, governments have the opportunity to attract new highly qualified candidates while also offering a work-life balance that traditionally hasn’t existed in this space. Having the flexibility to work remotely and adjust to personal events, such as having a sick family member, brings a human-centered approach to the workplace that contributes to employee loyalty.
A workforce that can be flexible and dynamic creates a culture that breaks down departmental silos, resulting in cross-agency collaboration and establishing highly unified operational efficiencies.
While we may be entering a new stage of the pandemic that sees a loosening of restrictions put in place to keep us safe, workplace adjustments and the modern work environment isn’t going anywhere. While we may be unlikely to see full juries sat virtually, elements of the judicial process will remain virtual. Other government functions, including city and county council meetings or even government-sponsored healthcare services, will continue to impact communities with lasting change through hybrid work.
