In 2014, a 23-year-old woman named Christina Morris went missing from The Shops at Legacy (a shopping mall) in Plano, Texas; in their investigation of her disappearance, the Plano Police Department collected nearly 1 TB of video footage. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage was collected to answer the questions of where she went; who was with her; and ultimately, what happened to her.

During that process, it became clear that having personnel who possessed a deep understanding of video technology and knew how to effectively utilize it in order to accurately respond to inquiries was absolutely crucial. These personnel expedited the process by converting all the many video formats, distilling the data to the pertinent information, sending this information out to the public and the detectives, and bringing justice to those responsible for Morris’s disappearance. Every piece of evidence was readily available to display in court, proving there was only one way for her to have left: in the car of her suspected assailant.

In 2016, a guilty verdict was brought for Morris’s kidnapping, primarily due to some excellent detective work, the evidence processed by the Plano video unit, and the DNA searched for based on this video evidence. Without having the right people, the proper understanding of video, and the right tools, the case may have had a different result.

A Rise in Video Evidence

When a crime is committed, video evidence is often one of the most compelling pieces of evidence and one of the most important and powerful sources of information for investigators, analysts, and judges.¹ The prevalence of this type of evidence has multiplied in the last 10 years as more companies and homes have added CCTV devices and security cameras.

A study from a few years ago conducted by the Everett Police Department in Washington showed an increase in video evidence from 20 GB in 2014 to over 2.5 TB by the end of 2019.² A similar rise in digital images and video was reported by an FBI examiner at the 2021 International Association of Identification Educational Conference, noting an increase in video from 1,000 CCTV files and 80,000 acquired witness files following the 2013 Boston Bombing to over 18,000 hours of CCTV footage and over 250,000 witness files of the unrest that happened at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

The Plano Police Department, a medium-sized department for a town of about 300,000 people, saw a similar increase in video evidence, as identified in the number of requests made to the Video Evidence Unit. In 2014, between 15 and 20 requests were made to the unit each month, ranging from CCTV collection to conversion, clarification, or analysis. By 2019, there were more than 300 requests made each month, and in 2022, the peak month received more than 450 submissions.

A Need for Specialized Personnel

Due to this overwhelming amount of data, it is crucial for agencies to have personnel devoted to and trained in the handling of video evidence. Basic training covering the logistics of reviewing, collecting, and distributing video evidence is helpful for detectives who only occasionally receive video and first responders who need to review it when time is short. This helps raise the value retrieved from the evidence and presented to the public or the court.

When selecting training, agencies should look for a course that is a mixture of lecture and hands-on with the purpose to provide students with the following learning objectives:

• • understand the theory and basics of image processing
  • recognize the challenges and pitfalls of using digital multimedia evidence for investigations
  • convert proprietary video files and apply basic corrections to images
  • prepare the evidence for presentations with redactions and annotations
  • properly examine and process image and video evidence backed with a workflow that is forensically sound and courtroom admissible
  • take the proper steps to obtain better results, apply these to real cases, and testify on the results

When tasks are more specialized, it is essential to have technical personnel who have been explicitly trained to process and analyze video evidence. A general digital evidence examiner may understand the intricacies of cell phones or computers. However, if they rarely review videos, they need expert assistance to quickly and accurately clarify or dissect video elements. As such, having personnel dedicated to video can help agencies of any size. Organizations such as the Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Video Association (LEVA) or the International Association of Identification (IAI) have training sessions, conferences, and certifications to ensure video analysts and examiners deeply understand video processes and the legalities surrounding them.

A Need for More Understanding

With residential cameras available at surplus stores, hardware stores, or even big online shopping sites, there is a false impression that video examination is easily understood and explained. This can lead to missing information or a misunderstanding of the details.

Video can easily influence one’s misinterpretation. In fact, each stage involved in the creation, storage, and playback of a video can potentially impact its final outcome.

Something as small as playing the video in the wrong player can have a significant effect on the “facts” in the video.

For example, in the context of a hit-and-run traffic accident, several crucial details come into play, such as identifiable information regarding the vehicle responsible for the incident, the speed at which it was traveling, and the precise timing of the accident. If a local CCTV system captures the scene, it can be helpful. Still, it is vital to ensure the details are preserved, the time checked for any variance between real-time and the time on the recorder, and the recording verified to ensure the video plays at the right speed. Something as small as playing the video in the wrong player can have a significant effect on the “facts” in the video.

Luckily, some organizations are working to help disseminate information about understanding video evidence. In the United States, groups such as the Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE) and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) have worked with experts to create consensus best practices and guidelines. These guidelines have been written to help first responders, examiners, agencies of all sizes, and even courtrooms maintain and present the best evidence. Amped Software also introduced a document entitled Essential Concepts and Principles for the Use of Video Evidence for Public Safety and Criminal Justice at the European Parliament on May 24, 2023, in line with Amped’s primary mission of justice through science.³ These principles can help lay a firmer foundation for law enforcement as they receive and process video evidence.

The document is divided into two separate sections. The first section is specifically aimed at policymakers and all public safety and justice system stakeholders. It makes them aware of some very high-level concepts that they should take into account when dealing with cases involving image and video evidence. The second section is aimed at practitioners (such as investigators and analysts) of the image and video forensics discipline and contains the actual principles.

A Need for Tools Fit for the Task

Having the personnel and the understanding of video evidence is a great start, but, ultimately, agencies will need tools to examine video evidence quickly, reliably, and accurately. In looking for the right tool, it is essential that the end user be considered. Standard players may “play” a video the agency receives, but they are often focused on performance over accuracy, which may lead to the player skipping frames or playing a video incorrectly. Additionally, many CCTV systems, and even some body-worn systems, require a proprietary player to be installed to view the video, which can hamper wide distribution or public information requests. Forensic tools are available to help address all of these potential shortfalls, and expert results can be produced with proper training.

There are tools that can convert, clarify, analyze, derive measurements, and generate court-ready presentation exhibits, but these extensive capabilities might be more than the patrol officer or crimes against persons detective needs daily. These officers will still need a tool that allows them to play almost any video accurately, quickly export images and videos, and annotate or redact features for them to be more widely distributed. Should the need arise for the dedicated examiner to take on the project, having a tool that allows easy export into their forensic image and video enhancement tool is vital to a streamlined workflow.

Conclusion

Several years after Morris’s disappearance and death, in 2018, another homicide occurred in Plano, and video evidence was once again collected. By having the right priorities regarding video evidence, the right personnel in place, and the proper tools, the agency was able to collect cogent data about the suspect vehicle and the path taken, following the victim from his place of work to several cities over, and the direction the suspect’s vehicle went. Over 6 TB of video was collected from every possible identified camera, and these details led to the suspect’s apprehension within days of the homicide. This process and the involvement of dedicated personnel also allowed the investigating officer to allocate time towards conducting interviews and pursuing leads, which resulted in additional evidence needed for conviction.

Amped Software develops solutions for the forensic analysis, authentication and enhancement of images and videos to assist an entire agency with investigations, helping from the crime scene, up to the forensic lab, and into the courtroom. Amped solutions are used by forensic labs, law enforcement, intelligence, military, security, and government agencies in more than 100 countries worldwide. With an emphasis on the transparency of the methodologies used, Amped solutions empower customers with the three main principles of the scientific method: accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility. For more information visit ampedsoftware.com.

Notes:

¹Matthew P. J. Ashby, “The Value of CCTV Surveillance Cameras as an Investigative Tool: An Empirical Analysis,” European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research 23, 441–459 (April 2017).

²Steve Paxton, “The Massive Growth of Video Evidence: What Police Administrators Need to Know,” Police 1, February 10, 2020.

³Martino Jerian, Essential Concepts and Principles for the Use of Video Evidence for Public Safety and Criminal Justice (Amped Software, 2023).