Arizona’s courtrooms of the future a step closer with new digital recording technology for Maricopa County

For The Record (FTR) has been awarded the contract to provide courtroom recording and evidence presentation systems for the Judicial Branch of Arizona, Maricopa County, one of the largest legal jurisdictions in the United States.

FTR’s Chief Technology Officer and President – Americas, Tony Douglass stated the company was proud to partner with the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County – a recognized leader in the adoption of courtroom technology.

This contract provides for a county-wide update to 219 rooms throughout Maricopa County, including 157 courtrooms in Phoenix, the state’s capital. Legacy systems will be upgraded or replaced with FTR’s latest digital recording solutions including new state-of-the-art evidence presentation technology. New-build courtrooms will also be outfitted with the solution as part of the standard for that court system.

Under the terms of the contract, FTR will provide the Judicial Branch in Maricopa County a fully integrated and managed end-to-end solution – from equipment installation and software implementation and training for court staff, through to ongoing recording management, equipment maintenance and technical support.

“We will deliver a suite of digital tools to reliably and consistently capture, manage, store and deliver the court record in audio and transcript form,” Mr Douglass said.

“The project will provide, judges, attorneys and litigants with timely and secure online access to recordings and transcripts of court proceedings as a result of the upgrade, further enhancing upon the foundation of access the Judicial Branch in Maricopa County has built.

“The courts will also be equipped with increased capability for remote parties, such as interpreters, to participate in court proceedings via teleconference or video conference; and for evidence to be presented electronically and seamlessly captured within the court record.”

FTR’s premier digital court recording software, FTR Gold, will be installed in all courtrooms as part of the initial phase of the project with hardware refreshes to follow with modern sound reinforcement and centralised monitoring,” Mr Douglass said.

About Maricopa County, Arizona

Maricopa County is located in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population was 4,410,824 as of 2018, making it the state’s most populous county, containing more than half the population of Arizona, and the fourth-most populous county in the United States.

Arizona’s capital, Phoenix, is located in Maricopa County.