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An audio-visual link between Manukau District Court and Mt Eden Corrections Facility went live today, Justice Minister Simon Power and Corrections Minister Judith Collins announced today.

AVL technology allows prisoners to appear in court by video link rather than in person. It is used mainly for procedural hearings, such as list appearances, call-overs, and bail hearings. It can be used for trials, but only with the consent of the defendant.

Justice Minister Simon Power and Corrections Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the rollout of court audio-visual links (AVL) to Hamilton.

The Hamilton AVL facility links Hamilton District Court with Waikeria Prison and is the second of four court/correction facilities to receive the technology.

AVL allows prisoners to appear in court by video link rather than in person. It is used mainly for procedural hearings, such as list appearances, call-overs, and bail hearings. It can also be used for trials, but only with the consent of the defendant.

A bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections officers an aggravating factor at sentencing has been welcomed back from select committee by Justice Minister Simon Power and Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins.

Mr Power said the Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill reflected the Government's wish to explicitly denounce in legislation attacks on Police and Corrections officers.

A six-month pilot programme to test audio-visual links between Auckland District Court and Mt Eden Corrections Facility has been a success, Justice Minister Simon Power and Corrections Minister Judith Collins said today.

The pilot, which ran from September last year to the end of February this year, was a joint project between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Corrections. It followed the passing of the Courts (Remote Participation) Act, which enables greater use of audio-visual link technology to simplify and speed up the criminal justice system.

A Bill which makes offending against Police and Corrections Officers an aggravating factor at sentencing passed its first reading in Parliament today.

The Minister of Police and Corrections, Judith Collins, told Parliament that the current law did not require a judge to take a law enforcement officer’s status into account as an aggravating factor at sentencing. Instead, it is left to the discretion of the sentencing judge.

Justice Minister Simon Power today introduced legislation to make offending against Police and Corrections officers a mandatory aggravating factor at sentencing.

The Government is to legislate to make offending against Police and Corrections officers an aggravating factor at sentencing.

The Government has made available $2 million during the 2010/11 year for the rollout of audio visual links for court proceedings.

A ministerial meeting on the drivers of crime next month will be co-hosted by Justice Minister Simon Power and Associate Corrections Minister Dr Pita Sharples.