From the Editor

Welcome to Video Scene Magazine, Volume 2

Recent economic conditions seem to be delivering a double blow to law enforcement: an increase in crime coupled with a decrease in budget resources to fight that crime.

According to an August, 2008 survey of 124 cities reported by the United States Conference of Mayors, more than 4 in 10 cities have seen an increase in crime as a result of our economic downturn. The report also points out the resource and budget battles that agencies are currently tackling.

It’s a catch-22 for law enforcement: catch more criminals without consuming more resources.

These conditions have heated up the hunt for cheaper and smarter ways to fight crime. Our question follows: does video offer a smarter more efficient way to catch criminals? There are a number of studies that examine the effectiveness of CCTV as used by municipalities. However, there exists no study to date on the effectiveness of video evidence regarding apprehension and prosecution of criminal suspects. One thing we do know is that the presence of video evidence is ever increasing. In part due to rise in shared and recorded video. Video seems to be everywhere - its on video surveillance DVRs, cell phones, PDAs, computers, the internet, home entertainment equipment, and many more. That’s why video is mentioned in 9 of 29 sections of the National Institute of Justice’s Special Report on Investigative Use of Technology: Devices, Tools and Techniques.

We’ve all heard video evidence success stories, whether from our peers or in the press. Video evidence has led to countless confessions and convictions. As reported in the Fresno Bee, a recent homicide investigation provides us with one positive outcome. A video surveillance system captured two individuals while shooting a young man. The suspects originally pleaded self-defense, but after being told about the video evidence, they confessed to the crime.

Video evidence certainly seems to be a good place to look to improve crime catching–from the idiots posting videos on the internet of themselves committing crimes to all the video from the rising number of video surveillance installations on public and private property.

But still the question remains: exactly how good is video evidence in the fight against crime?

This issue of our magazine provides several articles that give more insight into how video evidence is making out in the fight against crime. In addition, we’ve developed a survey that will give us all some additional insight. Please participate in the survey at VideoSceneMagazineSurvey.com. We’ll publish the results in our next issue. Let’s all learn something from each other. It may help us find ways to improve how we use video evidence to fight crime.

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