Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Video court options expanded
Judge Karren now accepts guilty pleas
BENTONVILLE — Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren has used a video system for five years to hold hearings in both civil and criminal cases. The practice saves money and increases security, he said.
He recently expanded the Monday afternoon video court to include guilty pleas. Inmates have to waive their right to appear in court before Karren will hear and accept a guilty plea.
“It resolves security issues since the Sheriff’s Office does not have to use four transport deputies to bring inmates to court,” Karren said.
“It helps cut down the cost of transportation, the time it takes to transport, manpower and helps with safety and security,” said Shannon Jenkins, the public information deputy for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, said.
Karren added it also helps because his courtroom is small and has limited seating.
Jay Saxton, Benton County’s chief public defender, described himself as a traditionalist. He’s adjusting to court via video, he said. Saxton said he understands the purpose of having video court, but he wonders if inmates appearing in court by video truly feel they are in court.
Bryan Sexton, a deputy prosecutor, said the biggest impact is 40 to 50 inmates are not being bused to Karren’s court.
“Neither the Sheriff’s Office nor the court have to worry about moving around dozens of inmates,” Sexton said.
Benton County Circuit Judge Doug Schrantz said using technology in courts is important, and he expects the practice to expand. Schrantz said he sometimes
“It resolves security issues since the Sheriff’s Office does not have to use four transport deputies to bring inmates to court.” — Brad Karren, Benton County circuit judge
uses a video system for his cases.
Karren and Schrantz both use video sometimes when interpreters are needed.
Schrantz said it saves money by saving the interpreter’s time and travel expense.
Karren’s bailiff, Danny Monjure, said they had a trial where doctors testified for opposing sides. One doctor, who was wearing a suit, was in court and testified while the other doctor testified via video in a medical setting. He was wearing a lab coat and nurses could be seen in the background.
Karren and Monjure said they observed the jury and the panel was more engaged with the doctor testifying by video.
“Both were professional, but the doctor on video looked the part,” Karren said. “It showed how much we are a TV society.”
Karren also said experts from the Arkansas Crime Laboratory are able to testify via video in some instances.
Schrantz said he expects each courtroom in the proposed courthouse to have the latest technology so judges will be able to utilize it to help with their dockets.
Benton County plans to ask voters in March to approve a sales tax increase to pay for a $30 million courts building.