NCJ Number
200719
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 27 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2003 Pages: 32-35
Date Published
May 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the advantages of using in-car video in police cars.
Abstract
In-car video systems in police vehicles monitor the behavior of police officers and have actually proved to be a police officer’s best friend in many unwarranted lawsuits. Countless court cases nationwide have been avoided because defendants and their attorneys were allowed to view in-car video footage as part of the discovery prior to trial. In-car video can be the best witness against a motorist or suspect. Videos of officers being murdered help investigators track down the assailants. Footage of officers searching a trunk with accompanying audio of the prior conversation with the suspect that developed the probable cause has been used to gain admissibility for evidence. Because it can prevent lawsuits and shorten court testimony, the cost savings of using in-car video can be significant. VHS videotape has been the standard for in-car systems for years. If still offers the advantages of ease of use, recording time, and availability of a TV and VCR combination in courtrooms. Another tape-based format that is very popular for in-car video systems is Hi-8. Hi-8 offers better resolution than VHS, meaning that more video and audio information can be put on one tape. The newest technology being offered in law enforcement video is digital recording. One of the best features of digital recording is the pre-event recording, which automatically captures between 25 seconds and 4 minutes of video before the recorder is activated. One problem with many in-car video systems is that they record a very narrow view of the scene, usually directly in front of the car. There are some models that can be adjusted to record a wider view.