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Brooklyn DA discusses technology investments and procurement challenges for discovery
5:59:09
ยท
118 sec
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez elaborates on the use of discovery funds for technological improvements and highlights challenges with procurement rules.
- Mentions hiring a company to develop interfacing technology for sharing discovery with police and defenders
- Discusses the transition from paper files to electronic filing in the courthouse
- Highlights the use of discovery money for hiring paralegals and support staff
- Explains difficulties with procurement rules and spending deadlines for state and city funds
Eric Gonzalez
5:59:09
just just want to piggyback on what D.
5:59:12
A.
5:59:12
Clark said in terms of this money.
5:59:15
The district attorneys, with the exception, I believe, of D.
Jonathan Darche
5:59:19
A.
Eric Gonzalez
5:59:19
McMahon, tried to we've hired a company to come in to do some of the interfacing in the technological sense between our offices, the police department, able to share with the defender organizations discovery.
5:59:38
So a lot of the money just goes out to the build out of this technological system.
5:59:44
One
Alvin Bragg
5:59:45
of
Eric Gonzalez
5:59:45
the things that we were able to do with our discovery money, for example, is to finally get rid of paper files in our courthouse and have electronic filing of documents and things.
5:59:58
A lot of this is really around the technology, but of course around the additional headcounts of our office.
6:00:04
I did distinguish earlier between my budgeted headcount and what I actually have is because we use some of that discovery money to bring on paralegals and support staff to assist in the procurement of the discovery.
6:00:21
I would say one last piece, and this is not something that I think can be solved by itself.
6:00:28
But DA Clark also mentioned that money was given to us by the state.
6:00:33
And even when we get money from the city, the procurement rules make it very difficult in order for us to enter into these contracts and then meet the deadline.
6:00:44
So we got money from the state, but by the time that money came, there would be no way to use that and procure this stuff legally, so money had to go back.
6:00:55
And so I think people see that money came, but not all of it was spent.
6:00:59
That's an ongoing problem as I understand both in state and city government.
Michael McMahon
6:01:04
And Go ahead.
6:01:06
Yes, sir.
Jonathan Darche
6:01:06
Go ahead.
Alvin Bragg
6:01:06
I I would I would just add that that this what we are extraordinarily grateful for the for the funding from both state and city, but it it it doesn't change the legal standard.