News
Local Courts Getting Tech Grants
By: Court News Ohio
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Security improvements, website upgrades, and new self-service kiosks are among the local court technology projects selected to receive grants from the Ohio Supreme Court. Courts in Hocking, Meigs, Jackson, and Guernsey Counties are some of the local courts that will receive funding. Nearly $2.5 million will be distributed to 69 courts for 110 projects.
“We received an overwhelming response to this program with nearly 570 proposals submitted. The projects selected will enable local courts to administer justice fairly and securely, and to improve access to justice for more Ohioans,” Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor said.
Ohio appeals, common pleas, municipal, and county courts were encouraged to apply to buy new or upgraded systems, hardware, or equipment. The projects selected for funding were screened by a 13-member review committee of judges, court administrators, clerks, IT professionals, and probation officers from local courts across the state. The peer reviewers prioritized requests totaling more than $16.5 million. Projects must be finished by Sept. 1.
The inaugural round of funding last year saw fewer than 300 funding requests when 109 projects were awarded $2.5 million.
Funding comes from the Ohio Courts Technology Initiative, established to facilitate the exchange of information and warehousing of data by and between Ohio courts and other justice system partners through the creation of the Ohio Courts Network, to deliver technology goods and services to courts, to operate the Commission on Technology and the Courts, and to aid in the orderly adoption and comprehensive use of technology in Ohio courts.