NCJ Number
207090
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 71 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 68,70-71,73,74
Date Published
August 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses how law enforcement agencies can most effectively use closed-circuit television (CCTV) tapes as evidence in crime cases and outlines strategies for developing an investigative video infrastructure.
Abstract
The increasing use of video monitoring by law enforcement agencies, public agencies, private businesses, and citizens is providing law enforcement agencies with an unprecedented amount of visual information to aid in investigations. A standard component of investigations is to survey businesses or public buildings near the crime scene to spot any smoked plastic domes that conceal video cameras that may have observed a suspect committing the crime and/or fleeing the area. In many cases, the video captured by CCTV systems may reveal important clues, such as a vehicle used for escape or accomplices acting as lookouts on a nearby street corner. In some cases, even the suspects themselves have made videos of their crimes. The recovery of video from a crime scene or search area should follow scientifically accepted procedures, and investigating officers should follow the chain-of-custody protocol prescribed for other physical evidence. In developing a video support infrastructure, a law enforcement agency should begin by identifying all current video applications within the agency. Often, existing personnel and equipment can provide the expertise and technology required to build an effective video support system. After such an assessment, the addition of some relatively inexpensive video-processing hardware can expand the capabilities of an existing system to include the capture and printing of individual video images. The next level of support requires the acquisition of computer equipment and software designed specifically for forensic examination of video images. The personnel who operate this equipment should be properly trained in its use and related legal issues. Departmental policies must also address some basic storage concerns, including chain of custody and the duration of retention for tapes. The police should consult with prosecutors to determine how the evidence should best be handled to facilitate its effective use in the courtroom.