Verizon Business has introduced two video-collaboration services to help courts and prison health care systems "assess collaboration readiness as well as design, implement and support a broad range of Web and audio conferencing services, and video capabilities from desktop Web cams to high-definition and immersive video," according to the company.

The conferencing services and video capabilities can help enable courts and prison health-care systems to operate more efficiently and effectively.

The technology and consulting services, announced earlier this week, include:

• Verizon Telejustice Collaboration Solutions: Provides video collaboration tools for federal, state and local judicial agencies to help facilitate the judicial process - from arraignment to parole hearings. Judges can use video conferencing for warrant, arraignment and other hearings, eliminating the expense and potential security issues involved in transporting defendants to court. Participants can remotely share court documents, diagrams and photographs to support proceedings.

• Verizon Telehealth Collaboration for Prisons: Enables prisons to expand inmate access to care while mitigating the need to transport prisoners to medical facilities, which can be costly and pose a danger to correctional personnel, medical professionals and the public.  With an aging prison population, institutions -- particularly those in rural areas -- can enhance the delivery of primary care services, as well as expand access to numerous specialties including neurology, cardiology, radiology and pathology. Physicians can meet with inmates via video and use remote monitoring devices for near-real time access to patient medical information, helping improve access to health care professionals and speed diagnosis. Psychiatric care can be provided via video conference or immersive video.

"The United States federal and state court systems and prisons are bursting at the seams," according to Troy Cromwell, group president for global strategic services with Verizon Business. "Yet, warrants still must be issued, arraignments must be held and prisoners must be cared for. In the face of these challenges, the criminal justice system is increasingly tapping into the power of IT to make the wheels of government turn more effectively."

Verizon Business demonstrated the services at the American Correctional Association conference in Chicago and at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials conference in Houston. Both trade shows ended Thursday.

Both services are available immediately under various state contracts, as well as an IT solution under the U.S. General Services Administration's Networx, Washington Interagency Telecommunications System (WITS 3) and Connections contracts and the Alliant Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) contract.