Inmates will no longer be paraded across the square in mass on arraignment days as video will now replace the stressful and sometimes dangerous march of prisoners from jail to court.

The new plan, to use video arraignment to replace an in-person appearance before the judge, will soon be put into use thanks to a grant from the state for the purchase of cameras and monitors. Video arraignment will allow the prisoner, from the confines of DeKalb County Jail, to have his or her primary appearance with the judge.

On a normal week, deputies transport about 20 to 30 inmates across the street from the jail to the courthouse to appear before the General Sessions judge. On circuit court days, the number is even higher. Along with the extra work, the transport presents extra risk for escape and the smuggling of illegal items back into the jail that may get passed to the inmates while they are in court.

“I think it’ll be a good thing,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray after the county commission discussed the plan with County Mayor Tim Stribling this past week. “Anytime we can cut down on the movement of inmates that is going to help.”

While the video system will cut down on arraignment transports, it will not cut down on other court appearances as inmates are guaranteed the right to face their accuser once their case gets deeper in the process.

The county will foot one –tenth of the $39,000 bill for the system.