Challenges Faced by Law Enforcement Involving Audio-Visual Evidence

Law enforcement is an incredibly important field, as it is responsible for keeping people and society safe. To help make it easier, many law enforcement agencies today are trying to rely on technology to help them catch criminals and prevent crime. Some of the most common forms of technology used today can include audio, video, and digital surveillance systems.

While this technology should be helpful and useful, many law enforcement professionals are finding that it is not as effective as it would seem. There are several reasons why law enforcement professionals struggle to successfully incorporate this technology into their profession.

Data Storage

One reason why audio and video evidence is not as helpful as one would expect is that there is a limited amount of data that can be stored. Unlike a website undergoing development once or twice and growing incrementally, audio and video files accumulate enormous amounts of data within a relatively short amount of time. This is especially true in law enforcement, where thousands of interactions with the public could be recorded on a given day, depending on the department. All that data has to go somewhere, placing immense pressure on law enforcement to effectively save these files without compromising access or integrity.

Accuracy

When it comes to using transcription services for law enforcement, accuracy is critical. If you have a digital or audio file that contains a sensitive recording, it will often be transcribed by a transcription service. When this is done, you are relying on the ability of people and computer programs to accurately transcribe the audio file. While mistakes happen, many services guarantee upwards of 99% accuracy. Police departments are dependent on these exceptionally talented transcriptionists to ensure accuracy.

Quality

While the technology of these files is improving all the time, it is still not always of the highest quality. Many cameras and recording devices are still rather grainy and can make it hard to see the suspect clearly. If you are not able to clearly see the suspect and do not have another way of matching them to the person on the video or recording, you will likely need to avoid using the recording entirely.

Confidentiality

When you are getting digital files sought by investigators, you also need to be concerned about the confidentiality of the files. There are many situations in which a recording could have taken place between a suspect and their attorney or medical professional. In these situations, you will not be able to use the files. If you do attempt to use them in the court of law, they likely will be thrown out immediately and it could put the whole case in jeopardy.

Civil Rights

One of the most sensitive points that come with any form of tech records is whether they could lead to a violation of civil rights. Unless you have received formal permission from a judge to do so, you are not legally allowed to record people. If you have received a recording through the wrong channels, it could be a violation of the Constitution and the evidence will have to be thrown out. Because of this, it is very important that all evidence or recordings that you receive come directly from a legal source.

The use of technology in law enforcement is a net benefit for society. With that said, the advantages of fighting crime with tech are diminished if the police are unable to figure out how to effectively put it to use. This is especially true when it comes to audio and visual recordings. Fortunately, law enforcement is stepping up to achieve this goal.