February 2020 - nCourt

February 25, 2020February 25, 2020

Streamline Civil Proceedings with Online Pleas Solution

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Contrary to what some may believe, there is greater demand than ever for online access to local courts. According to a study by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), over 80% of citizen respondents said that having the ability to manage cases and connect with court staff online would improve their experience. Court staff are similarly known to want online tools that alleviate some of the stress of their work.

Those citizens and clerks are getting what they want, thanks to an emerging solution called online dispute resolution (ODR) that uses technology to reach agreements. ODR technology can streamline administrative and judicial workflows, as well as facilitate payment processing. But what makes ODR better than traditional methods of dispute resolution?

What is online dispute resolution?

The development of ODR technology pulls from existing methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and transposes them to a fully digital space. Through mediation, negotiation, and/or arbitration, citizens can settle disputes with each other or with the court in a way that serves all parties effectively and painlessly. ODR platforms frequently employ asynchronous communication tools and online portals that also enable citizens to pursue justice outside of business hours.

While ODR can be implemented differently from region to region, it is known to be most effective at resolving small-scale disputes and “inconvenient” infractions, such as traffic citations. However, ODR can also be used to resolve property, taxation, and domestic relations cases; much of its value comes from the fact that it can be applied to multiple judicial settings. By allowing citizens to serve themselves, ODR technology streamlines the court process and reduces the strain on court resources.

nCourt’s Online Pleas Solution

nCourt brought ODR technology to the public in the form of its innovative Online Pleas Solution (OPS). The nCourt OPS enables citizens to work with the courts that serve them from anywhere at any time and helps them resolve their cases reliably and easily.

With nCourt’s OPS, courts and citizens alike enjoy a range of features, including:

Negotiation of domestic relations cases — Citizens can negotiate pre-decree cases (such as divorce or child support) as well as post-decree cases online with or without the help of the court or a third-party mediator.
Secure and private payments — Citizens can resolve outstanding fees with confidence that their data is protected.
Quick resolution of traffic and misdemeanor cases — Citizens can see their minor infractions resolved painlessly, from parking tickets to city ordinance violations.
Warrant and amnesty management — Citizens can track, prevent, and resolve failure-to-comply warrants; courts can also extend amnesties with the click of a mouse.
Civil claims resolution — Courts can use the solution to resolve small-claims, landlord-tenant, civil debt, and other cases; citizens can work with the court with or without the involvement of a mediator.

Benefits of OPS — “Virtual Court in a Box”

Virtual mediation has far-reaching benefits, one of which is streamlining administrative and judicial dispute workflows. OPS is a “Virtual Court in a Box” — it changes the paradigm between court representative and citizen, empowering citizens to take a more active role in their interactions with the court which promotes a willingness to pay and resolve matter quickly.

Today’s citizens are tech savvy and expect self-service options to engage with service providers. OPS supports this desire and satisfies the demand. In fact, by offering citizens a self-service option to resolve small-scale disputes (e.g., traffic citation), citizens can settle fines from anywhere, even outside of business hours, and communicate with court staff privately.

Additionally, OPS helps the court shorten lines and reduce the time needed to close cases. Robust functionality allows clerks to spend less time manually processing payments for minor infractions and decreases the need for law enforcement officers to track down late payments.

OPS presents a wide range of benefits for both court staff and citizens. ODR platforms such as nCourt’s OPS take advantage of the latest technology to expedite the processing and resolution of most minor infractions. By bearing the bulk of the administrative load, this solution relieves the pressure on administrative staff and equips them to do what they do best — bringing procedural justice to every citizen.

With nCourt, you can gain faster results, improve civic engagement, and boost your court’s bottom line. Learn more about our solutions, including nCourt OPS, by getting in touch today.

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February 25, 2020February 25, 2020

Make Secure Online Tax Payments with Paylocalgov

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What makes a good tax payment solution? The answer may differ from person to person. Tax professionals may require a more comprehensive solution that offers robust functionality and security on the back end. Citizens, on the other hand, may ask for a streamlined end-user process that takes the headache out of paying taxes. The challenge for payment providers is to create a solution that will most effectively serve both parties. With the help of a secure, data-backed online payment platform, courts can make tax payment and processing easier and safer than ever.

What is an online tax payment solution?

An effective tax payment solution will feature a cohesive platform of services for local and state tax offices. These services may include those for billing, collections, and reporting, in addition to convenient tools for citizens. Because these features are based online and take advantage of new technologies, they offer greater flexibility and scalability than locally hosted systems.

Online payment technology also enables courts to accept multiple methods of payment, including direct pay through a dedicated account or via debit or credit card. In many cases, payments can be made on mobile devices, meaning citizens can verify what they owe and pay their taxes and other fees from anywhere, at any time.

Of course, these expanded capabilities mean tax offices have more to consider than convenience alone. Online tax payment platforms — particularly when accessed from mobile devices — are susceptible to security breaches. This has become a priority for many payment providers in the wake of several high-profile attacks, and any good online tax payment platform will feature strong protective measures for financial data.

What is the role of data integration?

The most important attribute of any online tax payment solution — perhaps more so than the payment itself — is how the platform handles financial data. Some features tax professionals should look for include:

Seamless integration with backend software — This helps ensure taxes are processed efficiently and privately.
Ability to process data-backed payments — This is crucial today, since a considerable portion of finances are digital.
Securely hosted data on the agency’s website — A good solution provider will develop and maintain this website on behalf of agency staff.
Payment files posted back into the agency’s software — Data remains up-to-date and in the hands of those who need it most.
Payment files logged and accounted in a client admin portal — Files are easily accessible from a central digital space.
Data backup and disaster recovery capability — This is critical to protect and/or restore data that may be compromised due to unforeseen circumstances such as ransomware or other cybersecurity attacks.

What is Paylocalgov?

Paylocalgov is a component-driven platform that may be custom-tailored to local or state agencies for a range of tax payment needs. It offers access to real-time data reporting through its own dashboard, including time-saving analytics and filters for detailed account activity. Paylocalgov accepts multiple payment options, including digital and mobile payments, making tax payment a breeze for tech-savvy citizens. Most importantly, it features multiple layers of security at the highest level of PCI compliance, meaning citizens can rest easy knowing their data is safe.

A powerful online tax payment solution is about more than just the payment. Security, flexibility, and data integration all factor into making an effective payment platform. With Paylocalgov, local and state agencies can take advantage of the latest technology, and citizens — no matter where they are — can take comfort in knowing their payments will be filed easily, safely, and on time.

With features that can be customized to fit any agency’s needs, Paylocalgov makes it easier than ever for citizens to make tax payments and for governments to collect those payments. To learn more contact us at paylocalgov.com.

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February 25, 2020February 25, 2020

Modular Court Technology: The Court Component Model

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There is an alarming trend among court managers — the tendency to acquire technology without fully understanding how it works, or if it will translate to success in their specific court. They may also fail to recognize that their newly adopted suite of court management services will likely no longer meet their needs in a few short years. With new technology hitting shelves every day, court managers may feel overwhelmed when deciding on a solution to meet their business requirements. Fortunately, courts can take a modular approach to technology adoption, called court component modeling, that will equip them to adapt to new challenges.

What is court component modeling?

One way to define court component modeling (CCM) is to compare it to the traditional approach to court technology. Most case management systems (CMSs) are applied as monolithic, one-size-fits-all suites; while comprehensive in some cases, this approach is known to be ineffective in a rapidly evolving market. In contrast, the component model is highly modular and allows courts to mix and match programs for their individual needs, even if the programs come from multiple vendors. With CCM, courts can adopt technology based on their business strategy — rather than the other way around — and meet emerging business requirements by adjusting or supplementing their components instead of replacing an entire suite.

Components are also designed to be platform-agnostic in their interactions with other programs, independently deployable, and highly scalable. When combined with guidance from a trusted technology provider such as nCourt, these components will be easier to adopt and use than full, restrictive suites.

How is a court component model implemented?

In order to begin the adoption process, court managers should assess their business needs by asking themselves and their team a range of questions, including:

What tools will allow us to meet our current needs without restricting us in the future?
What are the gaps in our technological environment, and what technologies exist to help us fill those gaps?
What are the needs of our citizens, and how will the tools we select improve their access to procedural justice?

It may also help for court leaders to view their computing environment as an array of technological building blocks, rather than a consolidated CMS. From there, they can decide which components to use.

Components often are categorized as either case management or supplemental components. Case management components may include the central case manager many courts are accustomed to, as well as a financial manager and a document manager. Supplemental components may include e-filing tools, evidence management, and ePayment services. There are many more, depending on the provider, but the beauty of the component model is that it allows courts to exclusively pick and choose the tools they need to manage cases.

What are the benefits of court component modeling?

By creating a modular technological environment that can evolve with the market, CCM positions court professionals to be ready for the future. It also enables them to fill the gaps in service that may have existed under the traditional approach to technology. Courts that adopt CCM-based systems will be free to create a best-in-class solution composed of components from diverse vendors.

Inflexible courtroom technology can create challenges for clerks and professionals alike. With the help of the court component model, however, court leaders can make real change in this area. When court leaders do the proper research and choose the components that will have the greatest impact in their court environment, they will be better equipped to face coming changes in the industry.

The market for court technology is evolving faster than ever. Fortunately, nCourt is here to help local and state courts adapt to these changes and serve their citizens. Contact us today to learn more.

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