SLIDE 1
Body Worn Cameras (BWCs)
- Not a silver bullet to address other criminal
justice system issues
- Prosecutors must lead
- Early input and coordination with LE on
Digital Evidence Management Kay Chopard Cohen Executive Director - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Digital Evidence Management Kay Chopard Cohen Executive Director - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Digital Evidence Management Kay Chopard Cohen Executive Director National District Attorneys Association Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) Not a silver bullet to address other criminal justice system issues Prosecutors must lead Early input
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
BWC Components
- Policies and procedures
- Training
- Data retention and storage
- Discovery
- Stakeholders
- Miscellaneous
SLIDE 4
Policies and Procedures
- Coordination with LE agencies is key
– Multi-agency response to scene – Several different models of cameras and methods
- f storage
– Open records/FOIA requests – When to turn camera off and on
SLIDE 5
Training
- Consent searches—some two party consent
states
- Execution of a search warrant
- Potential consequences requiring redaction—
- Ex. Capturing license plate information of
potential witness
SLIDE 6
Data Retention and Storage
- Determine if all footage should be retained, or
just footage used as evidence in court
- Identify costs—cameras are the cheap part
– Retention, storage, redaction, personnel
- Identify where the data should be stored
- Determine how long footage will be retained
SLIDE 7
Discovery
- Identify who is handling parts of process
– Receiving recordings from LE agency – Redaction – Reviewing footage – Turning over materials to defense
- Identify when to turn over evidence
- Identify what to turn over—all video or
samples?
SLIDE 8
Stakeholders
- Discuss process and mechanics with judges, defense
bar, city attorneys, chiefs and sheriffs, rank and file
- fficers, citizens of community, victim advocates
- City attorneys
– Discuss potential civil liability issues
- Defense bar
– Discuss if possible to handle authenticity, discovery, chain-
- f-custody and other admissibility issues, in advance
– Develop uniform process to provide recordings that are part of discovery
SLIDE 9
Miscellaneous
- Privacy concerns—Ex. DV or child abuse
- Managing and processing volume of videos
without creating delays in cases
- FOIA requests/open records laws
- Brady/Giglio considerations
- Case/trial impacts