Digital justice: a look back at a year of e-filing

In November of last year, Wright became one of a growing number of counties to switch to an electronic filing system for all of their court documents. Currently, Wright is one of 36 counties to file its court documents electronically, and that number will likely grow as time goes on. Checking up a year after the changeover, the response to the electronic filing system is positive overall.

                While many were skeptical to begin with, law enforcement officers say that the new filing system saves them time and work. 

                “I don’t think it’s changed the day-to-day job. It’s made it more convenient. There’s faster turnaround. It’s more convenient for us. We just file it on our end, and then it goes to the courthouse. I think our ability to serve the public is a lot faster than it used to be,” said Chief Deputy Jeremy Hogrefe. “It also cuts out the middle people. There’s a lot less of a chance of losing or misplacing something, because once you file it, it’s there. It’s in the system, and it’s not loose paper that has to be transferred from here to there.”

                “Before, when we an officer wrote a citation, we’d physically have to take them to the clerk’s office the same day. Now, as soon as the officer sends it, it’s in the system. It saves a lot of legwork, running back and forth,” said Clarion’s Chief of Police Steve Hennigar. “ We’re right here in Clarion, so it wasn’t a huge issue for us. But you look at Eagle Grove or Belmond … I’m sure they’ve noticed a great deal of relief on running tickets back and forth. “

Read the full article in the Nov. 7 edition of the WCM.