SUNBURY - Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage is calling for the videoconferencing system between the county's prison, magistrate offices and courthouses to be upgraded for efficiency and avoiding security risks.
During the Northumberland County Prison Board meeting Wednesday morning, Sacavage called for an executive session to discuss security risks. After approximately 35 minutes, the meeting was reopened to the public, and Sacavage brought the issue to the board.
He said videoconferencing between the courthouse to SCI-Coal Township is the most developed, and would like to see the other systems have the same quality.
Warden Roy Johnson reported he added two more lines to the videoconferencing facility in the prison in preparation for the upgrades.
If videoconferencing was utilized by suspects and inmates for court appearances, it would be less costly and would minimize security risks of transporting accused criminals from one place to another, Sacavage said.
However, he said, they cannot be forced to use the videoconferencing; therefore, incentives could be used to make the option of videoconferencing more attractive.
There is no estimate of cost at this time, but Sacavage said he anticipated it being a "minor cost."
The president judge's plan of action was to inspect the existing facilities at the prison Wednesday and have further information and progress to report by the next prison board meeting.