The Magistrates' Court of Victoria, in partnership with Corrections Victoria, has commenced a trial of the use of modern, internet based video conference technology at selected Magistrates' and Children's Court venues and prisons. The project will consist of two stages.
The first stage of the project is to improve and expand the capacity to video conference matters between Courts and Corrections Victoria. Eleven court venues and four prisons are involved in the initial stages of the project. New video conference equipment has been installed at those locations.
Stage one became operational on 20 April 2015.
Stage two will provide the opportunity for legal practitioners and other agenices to securely dial into courts and prisons using a software solution to link from a range of devices such as a laptop, tablet and smart phone.
The increased video conference facilities in the pilot prisons will provide the the legal profession with greater opportunites to access their clients before and after the hearing of cases.
The following court venues and prisons have been selected to participate in the first stage of the project:
Court locations | Prisons |
Melbourne (Magistrates' and Children's) | Barwon Prison |
Bendigo | Dame Phyllis Frost Centre |
Broadmeadows | Metropolitan Remand Centre |
Dandenong | Port Phillip Prison |
Frankston | |
Geelong | |
Heidelberg | |
Ringwood | |
Sunshine | |
Werribee |
A copy of the Court's media release and project information can be accessed via the Related Publications menu on the right.