The Florida State Attorney’s Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit has upgraded its forensic software, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline digital evidence management and enhance prosecutorial efficiency.

Recently, the office announced its transition to the NICE Justice software platform, designed to allow legal officials to focus more on prosecuting cases by automating the management of digital evidence.

Specifically, the office will use NICE’s Evidencentral, a cloud-based platform equipped with AI and automation capabilities, to handle various aspects of digital evidence management, including discovery and the creation of trial exhibits.

The platform offers several advanced features, such as automated case building, object detection, video and audio transcription and translation, optical character recognition (OCR), analytics, and the ability to identify evidence and case connections. This comprehensive system is set to transform how prosecutors manage evidence, making the process more efficient and less reliant on physical storage and multiple systems.

By reducing the need for physical discs, drives, and emails, the software will help clear both physical and digital clutter. This transition also means prosecutors, attorneys, and other staff will have more time to dedicate to preparing compelling cases, as they no longer need to navigate through multiple platforms to manage evidence.

The need for such efficiency is evident, as the office received an average of 26,000 evidence files per month in 2023 and collaborates with 26 law enforcement agencies that each use different methods and systems for managing evidence.

State Attorney Brian S. Kramer expressed confidence in the new platform’s ability to improve the office’s operations. “With NICE Justice, our attorneys and staff will be able to redirect more time, energy, and effort into prosecution-oriented activities, instead of managing digital evidence. In addition to supporting successful prosecutions, NICE Justice is going to help us move cases through the criminal justice system faster,” Kramer stated.

Chris Wooten, Executive Vice President of NICE, also commented on the partnership, highlighting the growing challenges of managing digital evidence. “Whether you are prosecuting cases or defending clients, digital evidence is central to the truth. But as evidence volume and complexity grows, managing it the same old way is bogging everyone down. With NICE Justice, everyone in the criminal justice system can work more efficiently and make decisions based on the full set of facts,” Wooten remarked.

The Florida State Attorney’s Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit handles approximately 18,000 felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile cases annually, and this adoption of AI-driven technology is expected to significantly enhance their ability to manage and prosecute these cases.