Video conferencing technology is now being installed for Bermuda's court and prison system, said Attorney General Kim Wilson.

According to Senator Wilson, United States based company CourtSmart is installing the equipment in four courtrooms, the Westgate Correctional Facility and Global House.

In the Upper House Senator Jeanne Atherden suggested such equipment could have prevented the escape of Westgate inmate Alvone Maybury, 24.

Mr. Maybury fled Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning while prison officers tried to escort him to a waiting van to return him to prison.

Sen. Atherden said: "It just caused me to wonder do we know when the video conferencing is to take place?"

The video equipment is expected to cut down on transportation costs for both criminals and witnesses.

It would allow Westgate inmates on remand to make court appearances via a video screen, which would eliminate many of the dangers and high costs.

It would also allow vulnerable witnesses, such as children or those likely to be intimidated by a defendant, to testify away from the courtroom setting.

Cabling at Magistrates' and Supreme Court is set to begin shortly upon receipt of a new price quote, said Sen. Wilson yesterday.

This cable installation is expected to take four weeks, but this is dependent on how quickly a new price quote for the technology comes through.

Sen. Wilson said: "The system will allow Global House to conference a witness with any of the other end-points.

"The CourtSmart digital conferencing system will allow the four courtrooms to connect to the Westgate Correction Facility and record the audio/video portion of the video conference."

She said data lines were being installed by Bermuda Telephone Company, which will run from the Supreme Court and Public Prosecutions building, known as Global House, to Supreme Court and Westgate Corrections Facilities.

This cabling will include switches, and routing to connecting the Government and court networks.

The work with CourtSmart could be complete after 60 days.

Vendor TECS Limited is being used for this work at Magistrates' and Supreme Court, while the Digital Digs group will be providing the monitors.