Local courts may apply for technology grants from the Ohio Supreme Court beginning today (Nov. 15, 2017) until the close of business on Dec. 22, 2017.

Local courts may apply for technology grants from the Ohio Supreme Court beginning today (Nov. 15, 2017) until the close of business on Dec. 22, 2017.

Ohio courts may now apply for a new round of grants from the Ohio Supreme Court for technology projects designed to remove barriers to the efficient and effective administration of justice.

The application period opens today and continues until the close of business on Dec. 22, 2017. Any court of appeals, common pleas court (including its internal divisions), municipal court, or county court is eligible to apply. Mayor’s courts are not eligible to participate in the program.

The following types of projects will be given priority consideration, in order:

1. Upgrade to the court’s existing case management system (CMS) that improves case flow and/or public access.
2. Upgrade, replacement, or purchase of other technology systems that improve case flow or the fundamental duties of the court, or that improve public access.
3. Upgrade, replacement, or improvement to computer hardware or equipment that supports the CMS or other systems that affect case flow or the fundamental duties of the court, or improve public access.
4. All other computer hardware, software, or equipment that is non-security related.

In addition, a portion of the available funds will be set aside to pay for courtroom or related building security equipment upgrades or new installations.

In the past three years, nearly $8 million in grants has been distributed to courts across Ohio. The program has aided in the completion of 288 projects in 78 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Projects include case management upgrades, public online access to records, systems to file and pay fees, hardware upgrades, and a variety of other projects where technology deficiencies are a barrier to the access and administration of justice.

Details about the grant opportunity, including instructions for how to apply, are available on the Ohio Supreme Court’s website.

In a new step this year, staff will conduct two information sessions for courts interested in more information about the application process. Registration instructions are available on the website. Questions can be sent to Linda Flickinger, grant administrator, at techgrant@sc.ohio.gov.

Awards are expected to be announced in February 2018.