The Third Branch
Videoconferencing connects parents, lawyers to children
The Dane County Circuit Court began in January to link lawyers and parents in Madison with juveniles incarcerated at Ethan Allen, Lincoln Hills and Southern Oaks.
The videoconferencing project grew from a conversation between Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson and Judge John C. Albert.
"This is a small project that can make a big difference," Albert said. "Because it's clear that kids who stay connected with their families while they are incarcerated have a better chance of not repeating a crime."
The project took about a year from concept to completion, with Dane County Juvenile Court Administrator John Bauman leading the effort. Bauman identified appropriate space for the videoconferences, received a small grant from the state Office of Justice Assistance to pay for the equipment, and worked with the three institutions to help them develop policies and procedures. Now, he is focused on getting the word out.
The first two people to use the Madison facility were an attorney who met with a client at Ethan Allen and a parent who met with her daughter at Southern Oaks.
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