No agency wants to deal with a lost interview situation. Whether it happens because of a clumsy mistake or a freak accident, a lost interview can cause irreversible damage to cases. Ensuring that justice is served becomes a real challenge when you can’t account for all of the original evidence.
An interview should never get lost, yet it still happens—even in today’s day and age. Despite the technological advances, some agencies continue to use outdated equipment and systems for their audio and video recording. Understanding the value of a truly secure system, and having the foresight to put these upgrades in place can prevent a world of trouble.
Lost Interview Risks
There are a few different times when an interview might get deleted or ruined when evidence is being collected, but agencies can also face challenges over the course of the interview itself. If setting up the equipment for an interview recording is too cumbersome, there’s a higher chance that mistakes will be made. Imagine the devastation if you thought you were recording, only to find that the nothing was actually documented when you finish and try to play the interview. Unfortunately, these problems have occurred in all types of settings.
Child Advocacy
Lost interviews are especially traumatic for child advocacy cases. These interview subjects are often the most vulnerable in our court system, and because there is only one chance to obtain a complete and accurate recording, there can be no room for error. Having a simple and reliable audio video capture system is of the utmost importance.
Criminal Cases
Being able to securely manage interview recordings for other criminal cases is also key. Every piece of evidence must be made available to the courts to ensure a fair trial. Having to face even one lost interview is one too many. Police departments know that repeating the interrogation process is out of the question. It must be done right the first time.
Mitigating Interview Problems
Agencies must take every opportunity to mitigate interview problems. The risks are far too great to let these precautions slide. Identifying three areas for improvement and taking action on these steps can help keep all of your interviews safe and secure for review in court.
1. Simplify at the Start
If agencies can eliminate the problems at the beginning of an interview with a simple “start recording” process, then they have a better chance of maintaining a complete interview. The best option is when you only have to flip a switch to start your recording. That way, it’s easier to focus on the task at hand—the interview itself.
2. Adopt Electronic Recordings
In the past, relying on DVDs for your audio video recordings seemed like a fine process. However, there are much better options available today. DVDs can be scratched and faulty. If agencies switch to electronic versions of their files, they’ll be much better equipped to save each of their interviews without these risks. Electronic records also make it easy to process redactions and make notes on the interview. You can even bookmark certain sections of the recording for further review.
3. Store Interviews in the Cloud
Security should always be a top priority for interview recordings, and cloud storage helps make this goal a reality. Systems that provide an audit trail and tamper-resistant access are a huge benefit for agencies looking to improve their interview recording and storage process. With the cloud, there’s also the benefit of limitless storage. When you don’t have to make room for shelves of DVD records, you have more space in your facility for other tasks. Agencies can store any number of files electronically in the cloud. This also makes it easier for pre-approved parties to access the interview recordings on their own device—no matter where they are.
If you have questions about modernizing your audio video capture system, iRecord is here to help. Our team would be happy to speak with you regarding your concerns and goals for accurate recordings and secure electronic storage. Send us a message to start the conversation.