Vance County to upgrade its courtrooms

Tyler Davis, Henderson (N.C.) Daily Dispatch
·1 min read

Oct. 11—HENDERSON — Vance County commissioners moved last Monday to enhance the county courtroom's audio-visual elements, at least in monetary terms.

North Carolina's judicial branch launched two projects earlier this year — Courtroom Audio Visual Experience and Wireless Access for Virtual Enhancement — to equip courtrooms across the state with high-definition monitors, cameras and audio devices.

The idea is to "further enhance the capability to safely and securely hold remote court proceedings," according to state judicial officials.

Additionally, the state will foot the bill for all the equipment and any maintenance in the foreseeable future. Vance County only needs to pay for the wiring, which comes out to about $27,426. The value of the equipment the state will provide is around $187,000.

The county currently employs CourtCall in its courtrooms, a service that costs around $9,000. The upgrade will cut that cost entirely.

Only two of the county's three courtrooms are getting this touch-up.

"We were lucky enough to even get two courtrooms. In several counties, they only got one," County Manager Jordan McMillen said.

The county intends to pursue a third upgrade "to the nth degree," McMillen said.