Should law enforcement upgrade their body-worn tech?
Body-worn cameras (BWC) have become critical tools for law enforcement. They help officers protect communities by offering a broader view than fixed city cameras. They often capture important footage that must also be reviewed and handled carefully.
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Inefficiencies in today’s body-wearable camera systems
Body-worn camera (BWC) systems in law enforcement have evolved, but many departments are now facing the challenges of outdated technology. Here's a breakdown of why they can be inefficient:
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Limited functionality: Many older systems require officers to return devices to docking stations for data offload, which can take hours
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Manual data retrieval: After offloading, officers must manually search, label, and organize footage, making case compilation time-consuming
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Additional resources: Some departments assign supervisory staff to audit and ensure accuracy in labeling, adding more strain on resources
These manual processes not only slow down investigations but also drain valuable time and resources.
What are the consequences of not finding and sharing evidence?
It's not just investigative evidence that needs attention. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), police departments are required to provide body-worn video footage within a few business days, depending on the jurisdiction. This is important for maintaining transparency and public trust.
If information isn’t easily searchable and video analysts are inundated with requests, these departments may not be able to effectively comply with the mandate.
This not only creates serious liability implications but also negates the very thing that FOIA was meant to do— provide higher levels of transparency to the public.
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The challenges of rising storage costs
Storing video from body-worn cameras is a major challenge for law enforcement. Here’s why:
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Large storage needs: Agencies collect huge amounts of video, some of which must be kept for long periods
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High costs: Maintaining servers for all this data can quickly exceed budgets, making some agencies hesitate to invest in body cameras
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Difficult management: For larger departments with thousands of devices, organizing, finding, and labeling footage can become overwhelming and expensive
Without the right technology, storing and managing body-worn camera data can be costly and time-consuming.
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5 must-haves to look for before investing in body-worn camera tech
Investing in body-worn cameras is only effective if law enforcement agencies have the right tools to manage and use the footage efficiently. Today, there are more advanced, purpose-built body-worn cameras and evidence management systems available that not only make handling case information more fluid and efficient but also keep overall costs down.
Whether a police department is switching out an older solution or implementing body-wearable tech for the first time, here’s what to look for to simplify the decision-making process and ensure you’re making a good investment for the long run.
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A solution built for easy evidence management |
Choose a centralized, scalable evidence management solution to easily gather and upload data from any source and store it in one place. This can include body-worn video, mobile phone data or video, audio files, pictures, and documents.
You should also be able to tag locations and keywords to each case file so that it’s easily searchable later on.
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Being able to handle evidence quickly and remotely |
Ensure that your officers can securely access the evidence management system from anywhere. This allows responding officers to capture, review, and upload video to a case file directly following an incident.
They can also add notes or other relevant data and then quickly transfer it to in-office colleagues while still in the field.
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Unified and flexible crime-fighting systems |
Consider an open-architecture system to synchronize the evidence management solution with existing computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) and records management systems (RMS).
Instead of juggling different applications trying to compile all evidence, your officers can quickly upload data into case files using one application, saving them tremendous time in classifying and managing evidence.
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Secure and simple evidence sharing for everyone |
Opt for a body-worn camera system that lets you specify user access and rights for documents and cases. This enhances collaboration with other officers, investigators, or district attorneys, while ensuring the authenticity of evidence through digital audit logs.
Having the ability to send an email to citizens with a secure link to file further simplifies FOIA requests.
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Cloud-based storage for all requirements and budgets |
Invest in a cloud-based evidence management system to better handle your body-worn camera storage requirements. A cloud solution allows you to easily increase or decrease your storage capacity, without worrying about buying servers and handling maintenance.
A cloud-based evidence management system also allows you to switch to a more affordable monthly or annual subscription fee, which can ease budget constraints.
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Why it’s important to invest in the right body-worn solution from the start
When it comes to body-wearable camera systems, law enforcement shouldn’t feel hostage to the way things are or were done in the past.
Modern-day body-worn cameras and evidence management systems can simplify evidence handling at every level, speed up investigations, minimize department headaches, and help you keep costs down over the long run.
Thinking about investing in body-worn camera technology? Or wondering if there’s a faster, more efficient way to manage your body-worn evidence?
