Agencies need a process for documenting their suspect interviews that’s both accurate and reliable. This type of evidence is a critical component of any case. Whether the result is to exonerate the innocent—or gather the necessary information for a guilty ruling—the court relies on suspect interviews in the pursuit of justice. That’s why digital evidence recordings, specifically, can make all the difference.
What Makes Digital Evidence Recordings Different?
Interview evidence is a cornerstone of our justice system. Yet the methods that were used in the past to collect this information aren’t enough today. Non-recorded interviews can be easily contested in court, and outdated recording equipment just isn’t able to deliver the benefits that digital evidence recordings provide.
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Reliable, High-Quality Audio Video Recordings
Agencies shouldn’t be wasting time setting up cameras that record on video cassettes. A modern interview room with digital evidence recordings will already have the equipment permanently installed and positioned appropriately to record the best audio video possible.
Put simply, digital recordings work to provide the whole picture. Newer interview recording solutions utilize HD cameras, which have better image quality. The recording power of the microphones will be stronger as well. This helps confirm that every moment and aspect of the interview can be considered for the ruling.
The suspect’s facial expressions, body language, and even quiet utterances must be clearly recorded for court review. Not only that, digital recordings give agencies the option to adjust the audio even further, as needed. It’s the most reliable way to bring high-quality and accurate interview evidence to the court—every time.
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Designed for Law Enforcement Agencies
The best recording solutions for law enforcement professionals are user-specific and designed with police officers in mind. This is another way that digital evidence recordings truly stand out. When done right, all parts of the solution’s hardware and software will be easy-to-use.
After the interview is complete, prosecutors and investigators benefit from having a streamlined process for assigning tags and annotations to key moments of the interview. Inserting these notes directly within the digital audio video file makes it quick and easy for all parties to reference and review the information they need to build a strong case.
What’s more, digital evidence recordings also simplify how public safety professionals create their court-requested redactions. All you need to do is scan through the file, and then you can edit the content with just a few clicks.
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Permanent and Secure Evidence Storage
Another reason why agencies need to move away from the old ways of creating their interview recordings is to ensure that their evidence always has redundant storage. The best solution will automatically save files to the cloud.
These digital evidence management solutions (DEMS) help give agencies the assurance they need that their evidence won’t get damaged or lost. Storing interview recordings on DVDs or saving them to flash drives comes with too many risks. Plus, these types of “physical” copies of evidence don’t have the appropriate security measures in place.
Making the switch to DEMS doesn’t have to be complicated, though. At iRecord, our entire mission is to help agencies adopt the best digital evidence recording technology that’s available today. We walk clients through the entire timeline of their project, from setting up their interview room with digital recording equipment and integrated software, to maximizing the benefits of a secure cloud portal.
If you’re ready to learn more, please reach out to our team! We’d be happy to schedule a demo so your team can discover the benefits that a DEMS can bring.