Prerecorded Videotape Trials

James L. McCrystal

doi:10.1117/12.955493

20 September 1977 Prerecorded Videotape Trials

James L. McCrystal

Proceedings Volume 0108, Optics in Security and Law Enforcement I; (1977) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955493
Event: 1977 SPIE/SPSE Technical Symposium East, 1977, Reston, United States

Abstract

The most dynamic use of video recording techniques in the legal profession is to prerecord all testimony so that playing the prerecorded testimony to,the court or jury becomes "the trial." Videotape equipment is used to prerecord the testimony which is then edited by the judge in his chambers -- with his authorities close at hand -- and played for the jury in a logical, uninterrupted sequence. No longer need trials be delayed while counsel argue motions in chambers, nor do trials have to be rescheduled because a doctor, whose testimony is to be taken, is suddenly called into surgery. Nor do counsel have to make vague and uninformed opening statements because they do not know, or are unsure, what the evidence will show. The testimony can be prerecorded at the convenience of the witnesses and counsel. Moreover, the judge does not have to be present during the taping or while the testimony is played for the jury, as he will have seen the tape during his editing session. Where prerecorded trails have been used; they have relieved docket congestion, eliminated trial delay and shortened length of trials. The response from attorneys, litigants and jurors has been very favorable.

Citation Download Citation

James L. McCrystal "Prerecorded Videotape Trials", Proc. SPIE 0108, Optics in Security and Law Enforcement I, (20 September 1977); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955493

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