The objective of the American justice system is to preserve the fairness and honesty of our legal proceedings. Court transcripts are essential documents in the legal process, serving as an official record that ensures a fair outcome. For similar reasons, legal transcription services have become a reliable solution for documenting what was said in court. But sometimes mistakes happen.
Inaccurate transcripts impair justice. Whether it is accidental or intentional, it can cause harm to innocent people or allow guilty parties to escape accountability. During cases like this, public trust in the justice system diminishes, potentially progressing to more severe consequences.
So, how can we prevent transcripts from being altered, and what happens if someone gets caught doing the act?
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- Altering court transcripts is difficult due to thorough review processes involving court reporters, lawyers, and the Clerk of Court.
- Intentionally falsifying court records is a serious federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 1506, punishable by fines and up to 5 years imprisonment.
- Human transcription services offer 99%+ accuracy, confidentiality, and the ability to certify transcripts for court admissibility.
What Are Court Transcripts and Why Are They Important?
Court transcripts are records of the events that happened in a courtroom. They document exchanges between the judges, lawyers, witnesses, defendants, and anyone else who’s spoken during the proceedings. Ditto’s court transcription services provide comprehensive coverage of legal events, capturing word-for-word accounts, which is crucial in legal proceedings and research.
Common Legal and Research Uses for Court Transcripts
Here are the common uses for court transcripts:
| Setting | Description |
| Appeals | Provides a verbatim record for appellate judges to review trial proceedings. |
| Legal Research | Used by attorneys, law students, and scholars to study case law and legal principles. |
| Media Reporting | Ensures accurate reporting and provides quotes from legal proceedings. |
| Public Records | Considered public records, accessible for background checks and historical research. |
| Investigations | Used by law enforcement and attorneys to investigate potential wrongdoing. |
| Academia | It serves as a primary source for studying legal systems, social issues, and public policy. |
Generally, different types of legal transcripts can be ordered, each for its own purpose. For example, aside from court transcripts, trial transcription is used to cover the entire legal process, from opening arguments to the final verdict.
Can Court Transcripts Be Altered or Tampered With?
Certifying transcripts is a process that legitimizes the document. It starts with a transcriptionist that is a U.S. resident – as only a resident can certify their work. Many competitors claim they can do this, but they simply cannot.
That said, even with transcript certification, transcripts do sometimes get altered.
In 2021, Judge Julie Introcaso of New Hampshire Circuit Court was arrested for altering official court documents. The former judge falsified physical evidence, specifically by using a correction fluid to modify two handwritten orders in a family court case during an active investigation. She was disbarred from practicing law in New Hampshire in 2022.
Julie Introcaso isn’t an isolated case. Tampering with evidence has happened many times.
How Transcript Tampering Happens (and Why It’s Rare)
Creating transcripts isn’t a walk in the park, let alone tampering with one. The perpetrator would need specialized equipment, passwords, and apps made just for the job. If authorities catch reporters or transcribers intentionally messing up the transcripts, they could be in hot water.
If you were in their shoes, would you even consider pulling a stunt like that?
There are many reasons why someone might attempt to alter a court transcript. Some of them include monetary gain, covering up mistakes, misleading courts, and influencing the outcome of the case.
Plus, both parties involved in the case will receive copies of the transcript before it’s certified. So, any changes would have to be so tiny that they would escape everyone’s attention.
However, if someone did pull a fast one, that’s where the Judicial Conduct Board (JCB) comes in. They can be considered the sheriff of the legal world, investigating any misconduct from lawyers or even judges.
If the JCB caught someone breaking the rules, they’ll bring them before the Court of Judicial Discipline, which can mean disbarment for legal professionals and, even worse, sometimes behind bars.
Ditto’s verbatim court reporting services range from courtroom proceedings to depositions, which preserve the authenticity of data and reduce the opportunities for tampering.
Legal Consequences of Court Transcript Tampering
Falsifying court records is a serious offense that can erode the integrity of the legal system and make the public lose faith in the judiciary.
Under 18 U.S.Code § 1506, “Whoever feloniously steals, takes away, alters, falsifies, or avoids any record, writ, process, or other proceedings, in any United States court, whereby any judgment is reversed, made void or does not take effect; or whoever acknowledges, or procures, in any such court, any recognizance, bail, or judgment, in the name of someone, not privy or consenting to the same, shall be fined or imprisoned up to five years, or both.”
To keep it simple, tampering with court records can open up cans of worms, like criminal charges, fines, and even jail time. Additionally, it can lead to the dismissal of cases or the overturning of convictions, negatively impacting the lives of all parties involved.
What to Do If a Court Transcript Is Altered or Inaccurate
If there are reasons to believe that court transcripts have been altered or tampered with, there are a few legal remedies to keep the legal process straight and narrow. One option is to file a motion with the court to investigate the suspected shady business and correct the record with the correct information.
Another solution is to appeal the decision based on the inaccurate transcript, arguing that the alteration messed with the case’s outcome. In some situations, it might be best to push for a new trial if the altered transcript significantly impacted the proceedings and made it hard for everyone to get a fair hearing.
However, if someone intentionally commits fraudulent acts, such as altering the details of a deposition transcript, they could face criminal charges for tampering with official court records—and I can guarantee that it will be heavy:
| Action | Legal Risk | Consequence |
| Minor editing without intent | Possibly civil sanction | Revision of the transcript |
| Intentional falsification | 18 USC §1506 (Theft or Alteration of Record) | Fines, Imprisonment of no more than 5 years |
How Legal Transcription Services Ensure Transcript Accuracy
I can’t testify for others; however, professional legal transcription service providers, like us here at Ditto Transcripts, can help keep records of legal proceedings authentic to life.
Our team has skilled transcriptionists who are experts in converting spoken words into accurate written text, ensuring the final transcript is a mirror image of what went down in court.
When I say “skilled transcriptionists,” I mean not only can they produce high-quality transcripts, but they also know their way around jargon and other technicalities surrounding the legal field.
Many transcription companies also utilize technology, like specialized court transcription equipment or secure online platforms, to streamline the process and ensure minimal mistakes.
Plus, we go the extra mile with robust security measures—access controls, regular backups, and more—to protect sensitive legal information from unauthorized changes.
How to Choose a Certified Legal Transcription Provider
Ditto Transcripts offers the best legal transcription in the industry. Signing up for our services gives you several major advantages, including:
Accuracy
Legal transcription inaccuracies can have heavy and far-reaching repercussions. Courts frequently use transcripts, especially verbatim ones, in hearings and other legal proceedings. This means that errors could lead to misinterpretations and have the potential to significantly—and negatively—impact an ongoing court case.
Some companies may offer low prices that reflect their lack of experience, and legal professionals can sometimes unknowingly fall for this trap. Such providers produce inaccurate and low-quality transcripts because they are not well-versed in legalese and industry jargon. Dealing with low-quality legal transcription companies will cost you more time, money, and effort.
Never settle for the cheapest, fastest transcriber with the lowest accuracy rates. Choose Ditto; you’ll get high-quality court transcripts every time, with 99% guaranteed accuracy rates. We guarantee that any transcript you receive from us is ready for use in court or legal research.
100% Human Transcription
According to studies, typical accuracy guarantees from automated solutions reach up to 61.92%.
Meanwhile, at Ditto we guarantee >99% accuracy. That means human-completed court transcripts won’t have too many glaring errors, if at all. You can reliably use them for any court case with confidence that everything is accurate.
And our clients love us for it.
Christine Denicola, a Ditto client, recently said, “Great service, company, and work! We have been using this company for years to get transcriptions done for research projects. They always provide competitive rates, super quick responses, and amazing turnaround times. They are a pleasure to work with, and I refer everyone to them when they are looking for transcription services.”
So, how do automated solutions compare to Ditto Transcripts? Here’s a quick overview:
| Feature | Ditto Transcripts | Automated transcripts |
| Accuracy | ~99% accuracy | ~61.92% accuracy |
| Legal Admissibility | Certified, Complies with CJIS and HIPAA | Generally not |
| Output and Formatting | Provides a complete, labeled, and legally-professional formatted output | Messy and incorrect documentation and formatting (often revised) |
Artificial Intelligence has improved significantly over the years. However, its ability to provide an accurate transcript is still very far from what Ditto offers.
Affordability
Lawyers and legal professionals understand that quality transcription might come with a hefty price, but that price tag shouldn’t say “arm and leg.”
Reliable transcription companies meet their clients’ transcription needs quickly and accurately without charging exorbitant prices. Here at Ditto, we provide costs upfront and are willing to contact clients if the current pricing models don’t match the required work. Additionally, we allow clients pay-as-you-go options without committing to long-term contracts.
Ditto’s legal transcription pricing starts at $1.50 per audio minute for more economical requirements. We also offer typical turnaround times and faster options for rush jobs.
Data Security and Confidentiality in Legal Transcription
To avoid someone altering your court transcripts, you should look into transcription services that provide the best security. Good thing you’re here, then.
Ditto’s legal transcription service implements rigorous security protocols to ensure that we keep every byte of data safe and confidential. Our security measures include:
- Detailed Reporting and Tracking Features
- Individually Defined User Access Levels
- Individual User Names, Passwords, and PINs (immediate deactivation upon request)
- Scaled Network Redundancy
- Virtual Private Network (VPN) Integration
- Dedicated Data Centers
- Encrypting All Data With SSL 256-bit Encryption
- Criminal Background Checks
Corporate legal departments, law firms, and other institutions in the legal sector handle criminal cases, so it’s better to choose a CJIS-compliant legal transcription services company like ours.
CJIS compliance is the hallmark of a reputable and secure transcription company; not every official transcription provider can attain compliance with the Criminal Justice Information Services, as the division requires passing security guidelines above and beyond typical security requirements.
Why Certification Matters in Legal Transcription
Legal transcriptions from depositions, custody hearings, court orders, conference calls, client meetings, witness testimony, interrogations, and other law enforcement documents are commonly used in legal proceedings. Furthermore, the court admits transcripts, and parties often submit them as evidence.
However, transcriptions submitted to the court require proper certification—meaning your transcriptionist must be able to certify their transcripts. Transcript certification has strict requirements, including the transcriber’s capacity to appear in open court and testify under oath.
Therefore, offshore and automated transcription services cannot certify transcripts. We, however, can certify any legal transcript upon request.