by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
For years, members of the Public Defender’s Office beat a path between their Market Street office and the Police Memorial Building to meet with clients. Before court, after court, on the weekends — when they needed to meet with a jailed client it was a time-consuming process that usually netted just a few minutes of actual work.
No more.
April 1, Public Defender Bill White and his 70-attorney staff began teleconferencing with clients. The new technology eliminates the hike to the jail and has been replaced with a quick phone call to a correctional officer who then retrieves the inmate. Each end of five floors at the jail is equipped with a camera that allows White and his staff to interact live with their clients.
“We have been working on this project for a long time,” said White, adding that it’s been used in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Tallahassee for a while. “This is not new, but it’s new to us. It’s been years in the making.”
Kelly Papa has been with the office for five years. At any given moment she may represent upwards of 50 clients. Not having to go to the jail to simply ask a question or two every time she needs an answer has saved her immeasurable time.
“Most of the time when you go over to the jail you have to wait 30 minutes before they even let you upstairs,” said Papa. “I can now call over to the correctional officer and speak to my client in five minutes.”
Papa said the biggest advantage beyond the time saved is safety. Often she may need to meet with a client or two at night. Rather than walk alone to the jail, she can call them from her office.
White said he went to Tampa to look at their system, liked what he saw, tweaked it a little and installed it here in Jacksonville. All 70 of his attorneys have a $50 camera mounted to the top of their monitor.
“You can hold up a document to the camera and show it to your client. You can talk to them after you have deposed a witness, tell them what the offer is or tell them the witness is not helping,” he said. “Conversations last five minutes that used to take an hour.
“One of the first lawyers here to use it — one of our senior lawyers — said it was better than sliced bread.”
Papa said most days she has clients she has to see and clients she should see. With the ability to teleconference instead of physically meeting with them, Papa and the rest of the office are able to get more done in less time. White said the program is still new and it may be a while before the savings become tangible.
“I have been with this office since 1974 and going to the jail is the not the most pleasant part of the job, but it can be the most productive if it’s a good interview,” said White. “This tool, I’m sold on it. It’s good for the lawyers and good for our clients.”