The Impact Of Technology On Law And Courts

Whether or not you know it, the judiciary system within the United States doesn't function as efficiently as it should. The system is overrun with fraudulent cases and this often slows the system to a crawl. At the same time, law enforcement has always take heat in terms of public opinion. Despite their intention to protect and serve, a few disputes have left the public opinion of law enforcement in disarray. Some believe that technology can enhance all aspects of the judicial system. Can it enhance the relationship between police and the public? Could it grease the wheels of the court systems?

One way that technology is becoming prevalent within the courts is through the use of trial exhibitions. Lawyers and attorneys can utilize technology to put together a highly influential exhibit, which can sway the jury's opinion in one way or another. Sanction and Trial Director are two programs, which are commonly used by attorneys throughout the nation. Each program makes it possible for lawyers to construct exhibits and display key information in bigger and bold formats. When attempting to convince the jury to take their side, this software could very well make the difference.

Some lawyers have been utilizing technology for an extensive period of time. In fact, the incredibly popular Microsoft PowerPoint has been used in the courtroom for many years. With this software, it is possible for lawyers to build slides, which can effectively highlight their arguments to the jury. These slides are commonly utilized during the opening and closing segments of trials. Another way that technology has improved the law and courts is by improving citizen's access to public records. Hundreds of local jurisdictions have begun to place their public records online for their citizens to see. It is even possible for individuals to buy and print these documents within a matter of minutes.

This provides citizens with rapid access to the documents and information needed twenty-four hours a day. Not only does this benefit the citizens, but also it helps to prevent clerks from getting bogged down with such non-necessities. With the recent increase in police-related fatalities, body cameras are becoming a popular topic. Wappingers Falls Police Department has become one of the first law enforcement agencies to take advantage of these high-tech devices. City Commissioner, Carl Calabrese has high hopes and predicts a positive outcome.

Tension among police officers and civilians is continuously increasing, but with this technology, law enforcement agencies will be able to prove their innocence, increase production, improve relationships with the public, and enhance security for everyone involved.

Thousands of civilians find themselves in a compromising position daily, leaving law enforcement with little information to assist the individual. Well, this problem will eventually be eliminated altogether, thanks to GPS tracing. Nowadays, nearly every law enforcement agency in the United States is utilizing this technology to find and locate missing people, criminals, solve crimes, and assist victims that find themselves in a compromising position.

All in all, technology will continue to play a major role in the advancement of the law and courts. This was evident, when defective Seagate hard drives led to a class action lawsuit by Hagen Berman's law group. This trend will likely continue in the years to come.