Any organization’s investment into new technology should be handled with caution. The budget needs to be protected, and directing funds to a faulty system isn’t an option. This is especially true for public safety agencies and their new forensic interview recording equipment.
With concerns regarding compliance and so much on the line for collecting reliable, accurate evidence, certain options should be eliminated right out of the gate. If a system isn’t specially designed for forensic interview recording, there’s little chance that it will meet the high security standards for storing digital evidence—let alone meet the requirements for supplying court-admissible evidence.
Public Safety Recording Equipment in the Age of Transparency
Detectives and child advocacy professionals work hard to collect what’s often the most critical evidence for a case. A victim’s testimony or an interview with a suspect typically serves as the cornerstone of the prosecution’s argument. As such, the court needs to be able to review that content with the assurance that the conversation was conducted to the highest standards for the public safety industry.
When agencies start to compare their options for purchasing new forensic interview recording equipment, one key factor to keep in mind is that the interview room recording solution will need to be installed with a two-camera setup, at minimum.
Recording with multiple angles makes it possible for the court to analyze all of the body language cues from the interview subject. What’s more, the technology should come with secure, redundant storage options to ensure that an interview recording is never lost. User-friendly software for notetaking and creating court-requested redactions, as well as automatic date/time watermarking are other hallmarks of a solid, comprehensive recording solution.
Body Cameras vs Forensic Interview Recording Equipment
While researching different recording solutions, agencies must consider the intended purpose of the recording equipment itself. Even though a solution may be designed with public safety in mind, it must be used in the proper context.
Body cameras are solely meant for recording interactions between law enforcement and the populations they are serving in the field. Recording interrogations and testimonials, on the other hand, requires true forensic interview recording equipment. These types of conversations need to be conducted in a private, professional setting that’s free of distractions, and the court needs a high-quality audio video recording in order to review every detail.
Fortunately, the public safety industry has options for using accurate, reliable forensic interview recording equipment within onsite facility interview recording rooms, as well as in the field with a mobile high-definition recording solution. Interview evidence can still be captured on-the-go, wherever the crime has been committed or wherever the interview subject needs to be reached. You just need the right type of equipment. With the right solutions provider, you can record interview evidence anywhere.
Improve Your Process with the iRecord Suite of Solutions
iRecord is proud to lead the way with delivering forensic interview recording equipment that protects and serves the individuals and agencies that serve and protect our communities. Whether your agency is looking for a new onsite recording solution or needs a robust recording option that allows you to capture interviews in the field, we can help!
Please don’t hesitate to send us a message to continue the conversation or download our checklist for a complete guide to interview room recording equipment. We can partner with clients at any stage of their implementation process.