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COVID safety measures implemented at Juvenile Justice Center
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: August 27, 2020
Walk into the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center and it is immediately apparent just how much technology has changed the way business is conducted as court officials work to keep staff and the public safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Those entering the building are greeted by a contactless fever-screening kiosk, which records their body temperatures and notes whether they are wearing a mask.
“We use the SpeedFace+ by ZKAccess, which enables us to detect body temperature within 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit, while a person is wearing a mask,” said Mahoning County Juvenile Court Administrator Wes Skeels.
The device turns blue when a person has a normal temperature and is wearing a mask.
As Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick explains, the units, which have been placed at both the main and handicap accessible entrances, are only being used to determine an individual’s health. The facial recognition component of the devices has been disabled.
“Our goal is to keep our deputies safe by allowing for contactless temperature-taking at a safe distance,” said Judge Dellick. “Our units look like a tablet and they are bolted to the wall.”
The temperature screening devices are one of the many features the court added after receiving just over $77,000 through the Department of Justice’s Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, provided $850 million to the Department of Justice to award to state and local governments to help them “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally.”
Court officials applied for the grant on May 28, with the assistance of Judge Dellick and staff members Kelly Melvin-Campbell, Skeels, Ron Chambers, Jennifer Pangio and Linda McNally. They were notified that they received the funds on June 24.
‘The funding has also been used to pay the detention center staff and to purchase masks, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer, gowns for our staff and UV Light Sanitizer wands for our cleaning crews,” said Skeels.
“The wands are used in addition to more traditional cleaning measures to help ensure that the building and surfaces are sanitized.”
In addition to the CESF funds, the court received a $36,833.74 emergency technology grant from the Ohio Supreme Court, enabling officials to purchase video conferencing equipment that allows for hearings and other court business to be conducted remotely.
“We purchased two Polycom Studio systems that allow us to do video arraignments from the jail, department of youth services or any prison,” said Skeels. “We already had one Polycom Studio system, so now we have units in three courtrooms.
“We also purchased five Cisco Webex subscriptions which can be used in combination with the systems to conduct remote hearings. The systems can also be used for Zoom,” said Skeels. “We then bought three headsets for our case managers so they can remain hands-free and work during remote hearings.”
Other items include a document scanner and two new tablets that are being used by families and others in conjunction with the court’s Wi-Fi to link into hearings or for contactless visits with students (detained juveniles).
“The tablets are accessible at the front door and are sterilized after each use,” said Skeels. “They have replaced in-person visitation, which has been suspended due to the pandemic.”
Judge Dellick said the equipment that was purchased helped the court to remain open during the entire stay-at-home order.
“We never closed,” she said. “We conducted all our hearings by phone or remotely and only a few people worked from home, mostly due to health issues,” said Judge Dellick. “Our clerk’s office remained open. We heard cases the entire time and never had shortened courthouse hours. We even kept the specialty dockets running and found by using technology we had better attendance and cooperation.
“As a result, we never had to delay the start or continue our cases since people could attend all hearings from home. It also provided insight into our student (juvenile detainees) and family homes since we were able to view their houses and living arrangements, better assisting us in addressing family issues such as housing needs, food, cleanliness and family life.”
Although hearings went forward, trials were on hold until June 1.
The juvenile justice building itself has been separated into zones, to allow officials to quickly trace the origin of any potential COVID-19 cases.
Students that are arrested and detained on new charges are held in the reception area for 14 days before being transferred to the general population.
“So far we have not had any spread in the courthouse,” said Skeels. “We plan to continue to follow strict protocols, including mandatory mask-wearing.”
One service that is currently suspended is the Attorney Help Desk, which provides free legal advice to pro se litigants who have questions pertaining to matters such as paternity, child support and custody disputes. Lawyers who man the desk get paid the out-of-court rate for a court-appointed attorney.
“Because the attorney-client meetings took place in a small indoor space we did not feel we could guarantee either party’s safety,” said Judge Dellick. “We are planning to open back up in September, with family members receiving advice remotely. Those without remote capabilities can utilize one of our newly purchased tablets in the front of the building.”
While Help Desk attorneys were initially being paid with court funds, Judge Dellick said a July 23 Ohio Supreme Court Civil Justice Grant in the amount of $10,600 will be used to cover lawyer costs in the future.
“It’s a very important service and we are grateful for the additional funding to help keep it running,” said Judge Dellick.
While the pandemic has presented challenges, Judge Dellick said officials have also become keenly aware of the benefits that technology provides.
“We have found that by holding hearings remotely or on the phone, it is actually easier for our families since they no longer need to leave work, get a ride to court, or secure a babysitter to attend a hearing,” said Judge Dellick. “It also increases their comfort level since they can appear from home.
“We plan to continue to offer remote hearings, even after the pandemic passes, which hopefully it does, because it helps keep the docket flowing and provides a less stigmatizing environment for our families, which is the first step in engaging people in the process.”