PHILADELPHIA (PA) CLOSED CIRCUIT TV (TELEVISION) SYSTEM FOR USE BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (FROM CARNAHAN CONFERENCE ON CRIME COUNTERMEASURES ...,1978, BY J S JACKSON - SEE NCJ-61021)

• NCJ Number: 61022
• Author(s): F HABER; W P CAYWOOD; E P GRIM; H ZACHER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Ores Publications
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A DESCRIPTION OF THE CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) CABLE SYSTEM INSTALLED IN PHILADELPHIA, PA., FOR USE BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

A MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE CCTV SYSTEM IS TO AID IN THE REMOTE PROCESSING OF PERSONS NEWLY APPREHENDED. THE SYSTEM LINKS THE 9 DIVISIONS AND THE 22 DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CITY HALL. IT PROVIDES TWO-WAY TELEVISION COMMUNICATION FOR COMMAND FUNCTIONS, BAIL INTERVIEWS, PRELIMINARY HEARINGS, AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY CASE SCREENING. IN ADDITION, IT BROADCASTS TELEVISION TRANSMISSIONS FOR POLICE TRAINING AND PROVIDES DOCUMENT AND FINGERPRINT FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION. THE LAYOUT OF THE SYSTEM EXTENDS OVER 14 MILES AND INCLUDES INSTALLATIONS AT SYSTEM TERMINALS, A SWITCHING SYSTEM THAT PERMITS SOME USERS TO HAVE TWO-WAY ACCESS TO A NUMBER OF OTHER USERS, AND A FACSIMILE NETWORK THAT IS CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING HIGH-RESOLUTION FINGERPRINT CHARTS IN LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. VIDEOPHONE FACILITIES ARE USED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE FACSIMILE SYSTEM VIA SHARED CHANNELS. WAITING TIME AND QUEUE LENGTHS OF VIDEOPHONE FACILITIES ARE ANALYZED, BASED ON AN EXAMINATION OF ARRIVAL AND SERVICE TIME PARAMETERS USING PAST RECORDS AND ACTUAL SYSTEM TRIAL DATA. THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CCTV CABLE SYSTEM AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN SYSTEM OPERATION ARE ADDRESSED. ILLUSTRATIONS ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DEP)