Vote: approved

Item Text

8. EXEMPTION TO THE COUNTY PURCHASING FREEZE AND TECHNOLOGY FINANCE PROGRAM FOR DIGITAL EVIDENCE PROGRAM Approve an exemption to the Maricopa County FY 2009-10 purchasing freeze for the acquisition of computer equipment and software for use as part of a pilot program to test the effectiveness of criminal trial electronic evidence presentation software. As part of the FY 2009-10 adopted budget, the Board of Supervisors approved the use of one-time non-recurring appropriated fund balance in the County Attorney (190) Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund (267) for the purchase of hardware and software to organize, prepare, and present evidence at trial. Equipment to be purchased includes 12 laptop computers and 20 hard drives (for departmental storage arrays). The laptops are of a specification that complies with the requirements of the evidence presentation software and Maricopa County Office of Enterprise Technology standards. The cost for the laptops will not exceed $17,200. These laptops will not be replaced at the end of their useful life. The hard drives will be used in existing departmental enterprise virtual storage arrays to store documents, images, video, and other digital evidence in support of digital evidence presentation. The cost of the hard drives will not exceed $19,300. Purchase of the hardware will made using existing technology equipment contracts. The County Attorney will absorb the cost of any future maintenance of the hardware. The County Attorney will use the equipment to be purchased above in conjunction with a software product offered by Sanction Solutions called Verdical. This software allows prosecutors to store, digitize, organize, and present digital evidence during trial. This software was selected after a review and test of the two major products that matched the Office’s requirements. The cost for the software, maintenance and training is expected to cost approximately $29,000. Purchase of the software will be accomplished in accordance with Article 3 of the Maricopa County Procurement Code. The County Attorney will absorb the cost of any future maintenance of the software. Also, approve an exemption to the Maricopa County Technology Finance Program (TFP) for the purchase of this equipment. Funding for the purchase of this equipment is only approved for FY 2009-10 and therefore not eligible for lease purchase under the TFP. Criminal prosecutors have experienced for several years now the phenomenon among jurors know as the "CSI Effect." Courtroom experience has shown that jurors no longer accept the presentation of evidence using traditional methods of mounting photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, and charts on large posters that are displayed in the courtroom on easels. Recent experience shows that jurors who are exposed to many television shows like "CSI", "Bones", "NCIS", and others, have higher expectations for the presentation of evidence during trial. Digital preparation of such evidence requires the use of specialized software to electronically store and organize a great volume of documents, photographs, audio, and video evidence. (C-19-10-019-3-00)

Attachments (2)