Video Conference Depositions

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

At the Miami-Dade Police Department’s (MDPD) Northside District, officers are required to attend a deposition for cases scheduled for court. Their travel time is approximately one hour for the round trip. During 2011, there were 722 depositions, with an equal number of travel hours. This represents time that an officer is unable to respond to calls for service, as well as the cost for the officer’s time. Also, since the depositions are conducted in another location, the travel costs include fuel and wear and tear on the police vehicle. The annual costs for Northside, based on the 2011 depositions, were $45,000. The Northside District, in partnership with the MDPD’s Information and Technology Services Bureau (ITSB), implemented a Video Conference Depositions (VCD) program with the Public Defender’s Office (PDO). This allows officers to provide the deposition at the District. By eliminating the travel time, an officer is able to remain in the District and respond to calls for service in the community. The VCD provides a costs savings of $45,000 per year for the officers’ time, vehicle fuel, and vehicle wear and tear.