The Parke Circuit Court and Parke County Clerk’s office is using a new 21st century computer system provided by the Indiana Supreme Court. The system, known as “Odyssey” connects the Parke County Court and Clerk offices to other counties’ courts, law enforcement, and state agencies, and makes court information available to the public. Judge Samuel Swaim, Clerk Kimberly Shorter and Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr., will answer questions about the system and explain why Odyssey is an improvement for court staff, law enforcement, and taxpayers.
MONDAY, JUNE 29TH at 11:30 a.m. EDT
Parke County Circuit Court
116 W. High Street
Rockville, Indiana 47872
With Odyssey, the Parke County Clerk is able to receive electronic traffic tickets “written” by the Indiana State Police and other local law enforcement agencies. Parke County Circuit Court is also able to send electronic information on traffic cases to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). “The Parke County Circuit Court is one of the first counties in the state to install this computerized case management system,” explained Justice Sullivan. “I look forward to congratulating Parke County court leaders in person, especially Judge Swaim, Clerk Shorter, and their staffs for their leadership in using court technology.”
Judge Swain expressed his appreciation to the Supreme Court for including Parke County as an early adopter of the new court computer system. ”I am delighted that the Indiana Supreme Court worked with Parke County officials to install this new case management system. We are very pleased with the way it is operating and excited about its prospects for speeding the processing of cases and improving public safety.”
Odyssey was first installed in ten Indiana courts on a pilot basis in December 2007 under the direction of the Division of State Court Administration’s Judicial Technology and Automation Committee (JTAC). It is part of the Court’s effort to equip every Indiana court with a 21st-century case management system and connect courts with each other and state agencies. Courts pay no installation costs, training costs, license fees, or annual maintenance costs for Odyssey. Those costs are paid by JTAC from the proceeds of a court filing fee dedicated to the project by the General Assembly.
“The Parke County Circuit Court and Clerk have never been able to afford to transition from typewriters to a computer system. Now, Odyssey allows us to save money by reducing paperwork. Everyday tasks like combining multiple payments for one customer, searching for an account, or printing a receipt are now possible. It helps us manages cases and the collection of fines in a much more efficient manner,” said Clerk Shorter
Odyssey is now operating in 25 Indiana courts in nine counties, including the Marion County traffic court, the busiest court in the state. These courts comprise approximately 16% of all the cases filed in Indiana. Odyssey is scheduled to be installed in many additional courts soon. Information on cases in Odyssey is available at no cost to the public online at http://courts.IN.gov.
