Court shares records - Charleston County, South Carolina uses iE's iE ScreenSurfer Internet/Web server software - Product Information

Communications News, March, 2000

Providing quick access to information is a chief commitment of Charleston County, S.C., the first municipality in the nation to give the public Web access to court documents--using ScreenSurfer by iE (formerly Intelligent Environments).

From basic civil complaints to the complicated criminal cases, details are available from the clerk of court's office by logging onto www3.CharlestonCounty.org, making it quicker and easier for paralegals, bonding agencies, lawyers, and the public to get needed information. Two months after the legacy-to-Web conversion from the 3270 remote public access system (RPAS) screens to ScreenSurfer, Charleston County is averaging 3,000 screen views a day.

Before the changeover, anyone who needed an occasional document used the computers at one of two county court-houses, either in person or via expensive remote access subscription and set-up, monthly, and per-minute usage fees.

The 3270 screen is behind what the user sees, while ScreenSurfer collects the information and presents it to users in an easy-to-digest point-and-click Web interface.

The county already has recouped its software and implementation costs. Clerk of court Julie Armstrong saves time since she no longer has to assist users with operating 3270 terminals--nor does she have to answer oft-repeated questions, since FAQs are available on line.

Since launching the program, e-mails and letters have come pouring in, commending the application's ease of use. Charleston County in the process of making busfness-license data available via the Web within the next few months and will eventually make tax-related information in the auditor and treasurer offices Web accessible with ScreenSurfer.

www.sereensurfer.com

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