Q&A: Transcription Off Site of Court Recordings*
QUESTION:
Does anyone have any complaints about the accuracy of court transcripts prepared off-site by transcribers who were not in the court at the time of the recording?
Also, what kind of a certification and qualifications do you require for your court reporters in your area?
Our government is looking to start using digital recording monitored by a court monitor and transcription pools to replace court reporters.
What I am wondering is have you had issues with not having a certified court reporter type the transcript since you have changed over to the typing pool or off-site typist?
RESPONSE:
In South Dakota, we do not use off-site transcribers. All transcripts are prepared by official (court employed) court reporters, in-state freelance reporters who were in court and reported on the proceeding, or, in the case of electronically recorded proceedings, court recorders (court employed). We have had no complaints about accuracy. Our rule regarding use of electronically recorded proceedings is attached and also allows these proceedings to be transcribed by an official court reporter. In practice, we encourage these proceedings to be transcribed by a reporter.
RESPONSE:
[Deleted] the U.S. federal courts use audio recording for a lot of judges (and steno reporters for lots, too!), and of course many transcripts are produced from these recordings. Typically, the transcripts are produced by outside vendors that apply to each local court to perform that service (there is no national registry). As an example, my court's two judges both use audio recording for all hearings and trials, and we have a page on our local website listing the transcription firms (and other information). Go to http://www.nmcourt.fed.us/usbc/transcripts to see this information. If a firm/person wants to be added to our list, we check references with other courts as our primary means to assess qualifications.
Now, regarding the accuracy of the transcripts, I have never had even one complaint here. I believe the work done by the transcriptionists is excellent, even though they weren't in the courtroom at the time. If we ever had an accuracy problem, we would strike the offending firm from our list.
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* All names and other forms of specific identification have been edited out to protect the privacy and confidentiality of participants.
Comments
There are, literally, tens of thousands of digital court recording systems in use nationwide (and around the world). These recording systems are being used in all levels of court.
You will find a variety of strategies for getting transcript produced from digital recordings. The responses from South Dakota and New Mexico are examples of two common transcription processes.
Using outside contract transcription firms is the most common around the country. There are plenty of choices.
The American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT - www.aaert.org) is the national association for professional e-reporters and court transcribers. AAERT offers certification for both e-reporters (monitors) and transcribers.
For some good background information, you can go to the archives at the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) in Williamsburg, VA (www.ncsc.org). There is a long history of electronic reporting research.
The bottom line is that digital recording and transcript produced from digital recording is not only cost effective, but highly accurate. Transcript can be produced very quickly. It is common for qualified transcription firms to offer daily and hourly turnaround times.
I know that digital recording has been used in the lower courts in New York for several years. The roll-out of digital at the higher level courts has been happening over the last couple of years. There are several significant benefits to digital recording over traditional stenographic methods. Assuming implementation has been well planned and is properly managed, as it seems is happening, you should end up being very happy with this transition.
Posted by: Steve Townsend | March 17, 2009 4:32 PM