NCJ Number
186017
Journal
Forensic Science Communications Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2000 Pages: 1-19
Date Published
October 2000
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article examines the legal ramifications of digital imaging in law enforcement.
Abstract
The article discusses digital imaging and chain of custody, emphasizing the importance of conforming to accepted standards and the applicable rules of evidence. The article also considers the originality of evidence, documenting a digital image, and several methods to authenticate the integrity of digital images once they have been captured. The article gives special attention to the subject of image tampering. The article concludes there is little doubt that, over time, digital imaging will replace film as the preferred method for recording crime scenes and the evidence found in them. How the American legal system adjusts to this technology is yet to be seen; the American system of justice is not known for its speed. In the end, when an image is introduced in court, the first question to be answered is whether the image is a fair and accurate representation of the scene or object as it was found. Questions about chain of custody or the validity of specific computer enhancement techniques will ultimately be answered in accordance with the recognized scientific principles of the day. Figures, references