The Bolivar County Circuit Court recently had electronic evidence display equipment installed. The equipment is a computerized video and audio display system to be used in the courtroom. Attorneys can place documents, pictures and three-dimensional objects such as bullets and guns on a projection feature that will display that object on a large screen. An attorney or a witness can highlight text on documents as well as draw on photos using an electronic stylus marker. Lawyers can even plug their computers into the system. A VCR, CD player or audio cassette player can be used to present audio and video evidence.

Circuit Court Judge Albert B. Smith, III of Cleveland says, "Instead of having to hand ten pictures to the jury, you can flash them on the screen. Jurors get a more vivid look at the pictures instead of having it for a couple of seconds and then passing it on." Smith says the equipment helps jurors understand the evidence and makes evidence presentation more efficient.

Bolivar County is the ninth county in Mississippi as well as the second county in the 11th Circuit Court District to receive the evidence display equipment through the Court Delay Reduction Program of the Administrative Office of Courts. The Bolivar County Board of Supervisors paid 25 percent, matching a federal grant administered by the state Department of Public Safety Division of Public Safety Planning. Jefferson Audio Systems, Inc. of Louisville, KY supplied the system.

Since November 2001, courtrooms in Coahoma, DeSoto, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Pike and Rankin counties received the computerized display system.