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District of Arizona



Subject: Contact:
Date Posted:
Video Teleconferencing (VTC) Policy for the United States District Court, District of ArizonaPhoenix: Sally Arvizu 602-322-7177; Tucson: Ann Soucie 520-205-4203
04/12/2007

Videoconferencing technology has been installed in the Phoenix and Tucson courthouses (General Order 98-56). These are "open" systems and can initiate or receive calls to and from each other, as well as to and from any compatible VTC system. A document camera, which allows for documents or small objects to be displayed on the video monitor, is also available in both the Phoenix and Tucson courthouse locations. In a cooperative effort, the United States Marshal's Service has installed four videoconferencing systems at the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) in Florence, Arizona. The CCA systems are "closed" and can only receive calls initiated from the VTC systems located in the Phoenix and Tucson courthouses to which they are directly linked. The priority use of the VTC equipment is as follows:


1. Judicial Officer meetings, prisoner civil rights hearings, and other civil and criminal case related court proceedings.

2. Court administrative matters as authorized by the Clerk, which would include administrative use by the United States Marshal.

3. Presentence and parole interviews with federal defendants by United States Probation Officers; bail review interviews with federal defendants by United States Pretrial Services Officers.

The Office of the Clerk of Court will administer the videoconferencing program for the District Court. Sally Arvizu (Phoenix) and Ann Soucie (Tucson), or any deputy clerk designated by the Clerk of Court will serve as the courthouse VTC Coordinators and will work under the direction and supervision of the Clerk and Chief Deputy Clerks. The Court's VTC equipment is located as follows:

Sandra Day O'Connor U. S. Courthouse
401 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Evo A. DeConcini U. S. Courthouse
405 W. Congress Street
Tucson, AZ 85701

VIDEOCONFERENCING AVAILABILITY TO OTHERS

The VTC system will be made available for conferencing when not in use by judicial officers. Use of the system is offered to:

SCHEDULING

All requests to use the VTC equipment will be made to the VTC Coordinators, who will maintain the schedule and approve requests based on availability and priority. Reservations will be accepted with the understanding that they are subject to change based on the Court's schedule. Hours of VTC operation will generally be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

TO RESERVE THE VTC EQUIPMENT, THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL APPLY:

1. When you are ready to make a reservation to use the courthouse equipment, contact the VTC Coordinator either by phone or e-mail, and be prepared to provide the number of expected participants, the date and time for your requested VTC reservation, and a point of contact.

Phoenix: Sally Arvizu: sally_arvizu@azd.uscourts.gov (602-322-7177) (Backup: Phoenix Systems Help Desk, 602-322-7171)
Tucson: Ann Soucie: ann_soucie@azd.uscourts.gov (520-205-4203) (Backup: Chuck Evans, 520-205-4207)

2. If you are planning to video teleconference with the CCA location, please contact the individuals below at least 5 working days prior to the day of the planned video teleconference. Be prepared to provide the inmate name and U.S. Marshal number.

Phoenix: Sally Arvizu: sally_arvizu@azd.uscourts.gov (602-322-7177) (Backup: Phoenix Systems Help Desk, 602-322-7171)
Tucson: Melanie Belter: melanie_belter@azd.uscourts.gov (520-205-4676) (Backup: Manuel Chavez: manuel_chavez@azd.uscourts.gov 520-205-4483)

3. Users of the equipment will be expected to operate the equipment as instructed by the VTC Coordinator. Users are also expected to notify the VTC Coordinator as soon as possible to cancel a reservation should their plans change.

4. Cancellation - At least a 24 hour advance notice is required when canceling a reservation. Also, should your session end earlier than the time reserved, please notify the VTC Coordinator immediately so that other scheduled users may plan accordingly.

vtcreq.pdf