Danielle Ward

The meeting addressed the first-year deliverables of the Task Force, including the completion and distribution of ACEs and YASI bench cards, as well as the development of advanced juvenile certification tracts and trauma-informed judicial training. The discussions also covered the launch of role-specific online training modules and the development of educational materials for minors. For the second-year goals, the Task Force focused on building court resilience through resource mapping, identifying ACEs-informed programs for adults and children, and expanding initiatives such as Safe Babies Courts, School Justice Partnerships, the Success Sequence model, family courts, and recovery courts. Additionally, the Task Force examined the Access and Visitation Program and the utility of the statewide community data platform for informing trauma-informed practices.

The meeting included an update on the CRAVE system deployment across various counties and its integration with the scheduling platform. Discussions focused on the State Crime Lab's transition to remote testimony, strategies for prioritizing cases for virtual proceedings, and efforts to improve data tracking for resolutions versus testimonies. The jail update highlighted the pilot program for advisements of counsel in Cabarrus, Stanly, Rowan, and Union Counties, emphasizing the goals of reducing transportation costs and personnel hours. Additional updates were provided by the Department of Adult Correction regarding the use of virtual court in the prison system, the necessity of dedicated attorney-client phone lines, and the ongoing need to define appropriate legal matters for remote proceedings across various court levels.

The Task Force discussed several initiatives regarding remote proceedings, including the development of pilot programs for remote testimony by State Crime Lab analysts and the establishment of new subcommittees. Key topics included the importance of disability access in remote court procedures, such as perceivable and operable design principles, and the use of real-time captioning. Technical updates were provided on the progress of courtroom configurations and a new scheduling application designed to streamline coordination across various justice departments. Furthermore, the meeting covered scheduling for juvenile justice proceedings, the identification of relevant data for measuring outcomes, strategies for prioritizing hearings, business practice modifications for electronic document routing, and the potential development of a waiver form for remote criminal or juvenile proceedings.

The task force addressed challenges regarding remote hearings between courts and correctional facilities, including scheduling, private attorney-client communication, and document exchange. Progress on the CRAVE system deployment was reviewed, alongside updates on a court Webex scheduling application designed to streamline hearing coordination. The meeting also included discussion and approval of revised waiver forms and colloquy templates for remote proceedings. Subcommittee reports provided updates on juvenile procedures, pilot programs at correctional institutions, jail-based remote hearings, and remote analyst testimony for the State Crime Lab.

The task force discussed the implementation of remote proceeding technologies, including new scheduling software and pilot programs for remote hearings involving the state crime lab. Key focus areas included the integration of remote testimony for DWI cases to improve efficiency and reduce travel requirements for analysts, the formation of subcommittees for juvenile hearings, and considerations regarding disability access in remote proceedings. Challenges and data measurement requirements for remote hearings were also reviewed.