State Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, (R, Rome) has introduced a bill (Senate # 5686) to authorize video arraignments without the consent of the defendant.

Griffo, whose district includes the eastern portion of St. Lawrence County including Massena and Potsdam, says the “electronic appearance” of a defendant in court is part of his “commitment to support the justice system and increase governmental efficiency.”

“The idea of video arraignments is to streamline the process and reduce costs that are required to transfer a prisoner to and from a county jail,” Griffo said.

“Currently law requires that a prisoner consent to a video arraignment, which means that all the power to decide this is effectively in the hands of someone who is suspected of breaking the law and who has been arrested. Not surprisingly, few criminals want to make life easy, and so very few allow counties to use the time-saving and cost-saving process of video arraignments.”

Griffo said his bill would restore a “proper balance.”

“There may be cases where prosecutors, county sheriffs and defense attorneys agree that a video arraignment would not be in the best interests of justice. However, no longer would the justice system be held hostage by the whims of the defendant,” he said.

Griffo noted the legislation would only apply to arraignments and not to hearings or trials.

“The cost of transporting incarcerated defendants back and forth from court for arraignment is very expensive. The availability of electronic equipment to enable video arraignments would over the long term save counties a great deal of money in transportation costs including those costs of officers in supervision of the defendant while traveling and in court. This saved money would then be one less burden on law-abiding taxpayers,” Griffo said, adding that video arraignments have been in use elsewhere in the country and are not an experimental technology, but a proven part of the justice system.