NCJ Number
183866
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 27 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 58-63
Date Published
June 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Institute for Forensic Imaging has designed sample standard operating procedures (SOP) for the use of digital photography in law enforcement.
Abstract
One SOP is designed for a patrol officer provided with a digital camera and asked to use it to document certain situations. The second SOP is for the photo specialist, who will process the images that the police officers provide. Police agencies should adapt these SOPs to their specific circumstances. The sample SOPs specify the camera and CDs to be used, issues relate to photo composition to meet the needs of prosecutors, and procedures for turning over evidence to ensure that doubts do not arise if it is necessary to perform scientific or mathematical analyses of the images. Digital imaging technology involves several complex technical issues. Police agencies should write SOPs to eliminate guesswork, rather than hoping that each police officer will address the complexities correctly. An SOP that anticipates most of the issues and deals with them in advance reduces to a minimum the opportunities for evidentiary challenges. Figure and text of sample SOPs.