VIDEO TAPE EVIDENCE DOCUMENTATION AS A CRIME REPORTING TECHNIQUE (FROM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIME COUNTERMEASURES - SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, PROCEEDINGS, 1977, BY JOHN S JACKSON - SEE NCJ-56184)

• NCJ Number: 56199
• Author(s): H W KRUSSMAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Ores Publications
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1977 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIME COUNTERMEASURES ADVOCATES THE USE OF LOW LIGHT VIDEO TAPE CAMERAS IN AN IMPROVED EVIDENCE DOCUMENTATION SYSTEM.

Abstract

THE COMPLEX AND ELEGANT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR EVIDENCE IN THE PROSECUTION OF MANY CRIMES IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE USE OF VIDEO TAPE SYSTEMS. WITH LOW LIGHT CAMERAS SUCH SYSTEMS CAN FACILITATE ALL-WEATHER, DAY AND NIGHT SURVEILLANCE, AND PRESENT IN A COURTROOM THE EVIDENCE OF THE WITNESSED CRIME. CURSORY EXAMINATION OF THE LEGALITY OF VIDEO TAPE SYSTEMS INDICATES THE POTENTIAL DEFENSE OF ENTRAPMENT BY SUSPECTS DIRECTED TO AREAS UNDER SURVEILLANCE. TECHNICALLY, HOWEVER, THE SYSTEMS ARE EXCELLENT AS A CRIME-REPORTING TECHNIQUE. THEY OPTIMIZE AVAILABLE MAN HOURS, AND PROVIDE AN INSTANT AND COMPLETE REPLAY OF EVERY NUANCE OF A RECORDED INCIDENT. THE SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT USED IN THE REPORTED EXPERIMENTS WAS DESIGNED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF COVERT OPERATIONS OCCURING IN ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTS. AUDIO RECORDING CAPACITY WAS ALSO DEVELOPED FOR THE SYSTEM. IN APPLICATION, THE TAPING OF SEVERAL CRIMES COMMITTED BY ONE SUSPECT WAS INFLUENTIAL DURING PLEA NEGOTIATIONS. THE JUDICIAL COMMUNITY AND THE PROSECUTORS RESPONDED FAVORABLY TO THE SYSTEM. THE IMPROVED QUALITY OF THE EVIDENCE RESULTS IN THE SWIFTER ADJUDICATION OF CRIMINAL CASES, AND PROBABLY COMPELS BETTER DECISIONS. ILLUSTRATIONS AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK).