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Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS)

The District Court of the Virgin Islands uses the Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) to capture evidence electronically during a trial. The Court provides evidence presentation equipment to any member of the V.I. bar.

 

How to Submit Electronic Exhibit Files

Electronic evidence files should be provided on a USB drive, DVD, or CD. 

 

Requirements for Exhibit File Types

All electronic evidence should be provided using the following formats: 

 Documents and Photographs: .pdf, .txt, .jpg, .bmp, .tif, .gif, .png
 Video and Audio Recordings: .avi, .asf, .mpg, .mp3, .mp4, .wav, .wmv, .3gpp (It has been observed that .wmv is the most optimal format for videos within JERS)

Regarding the file size of electronic evidence, individual files should not exceed 500MB. If possible, exhibits approaching or exceeding this size limit should be separated into multiple files. Note, PDF documents can often be reduced significantly in size by using tools such as Adobe's "Reduce File Size" feature. Images can be significantly reduced in file size by lowering its resolution or dimensions, usually with minimal affect to viewing quality. 

 

Exhibit Formatting Instructions for Batch Importing

Exhibit files can be formatted in a manner that permits them to be batch imported into the JERS system. The two methods used are described below. 

 

A. Indexed File Method

 All files are provided on a single storage device such as a CD, DVD, or USB drive.
 A text delimited index file named Exhibits.txt is required.
 The Exhibits.txt file must consist of the following pipe delimited layout: 
  Exhibit Number(optional Sub-Part) | Exhibit Description | Exhibit File Name 
  (a sample Exhibits.txt file can be viewed here


B. File Naming Method

 All files are provided on a single storage device such as a CD, DVD, or USB drive.
 Using any software or method, exhibit files are renamed using a naming convention simliar to:
  (exhibit number)-(exhibit part)_(exhibit description).(file extension)
 The use of the “underscore” character is required when an optional description of the exhibit is included and cannot be used elsewhere in the exhibit name. 
 Example listing of valid exhibit file names: 
  “1-a_photograph.jpg”, “12_2009 Tax Statement.pdf”, “35d.pdf”, 
  “12(a)_camera footage.wmv”
 
  (a sample listing of exhibit files using the File Name method can be viewed here.