RE: In-Car Video

Adam,

My current agency is not using a system yet, but is looking into one now. The previous system I used was a VHS based system, but almost everyone now is going digital.

The problem with VHS systems is the expense of the tapes and the storage of them. The last department I worked for had the officer use the tape until it was full, mark the tape with the start and end dates of use, and then stored the tape for 90 days from the last day unless there was an investigation that needed any of the information. The whole tape was then stored as long as needed. We reused the unneeded tapes to save money. For a 10 man patrol division, this worked out to about 150 tapes in use/rotation and an ever larger number growing in permanent storage (each DWI ended up with the patrol car tape for that day.

Of the systems I have looked at, the problem with digital systems is the storage of the medium and ease of manipulating a digital file (think Forest Gump and JFK). The one I like best so far is also the most expensive (I think). I like the Panasonic Toughbook Arbitrator system, set up with an automatic download system every time the car comes to the station. It requires a separate server for the downloads and storage, but can be set up so officers cannot tamper or turn the system off. As the file is downloaded, it also gets a cross check number embedded (not the technical explanation) so that if the file is ever modified it can be detected. This gives me the confidence in the system to produce evidentiary quality videos.

RE: In-Car Video

The archiving of the digitial file is done with forensic photographs as well. I know Orange County Sheriff's archive their crime scene/evidence photos immediately and this makes it difficult for someone to dink around with them. Thank God for digital!

Do you have templates in your MDT's for writing reports and such?

I hope you guys have put in for your grants to get federal funds for your cameras/systems.

RE: In-Car Video

Here is some intel on archiving digital files, this is NOT the Orange County Sheriff's I was referencing though. San Diego and Yolo County sheriff's would be great research resources. So scroll away!

Press Releases

2006: Orange County Sheriff's Office, FL - Putting the Trends Into Action

June 2006: Michigan PhotoDatabase Receives Grant, Accolades

March 2006: Yolo County Sheriff's Department Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Photo Imaging & Livescan System

September 2005: San Diego County Sheriff's Department Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Digital Mugshot Management System

September 2005: Austin, TX Awards Contract for Digital Management System

April 1, 2005: Miami-Dade Police Department Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Photo Imaging & Facial Recognition System

April 1, 2005: Shelby County Tennessee Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Inmate Booking Photo & Armband System

February 4, 2005: Greer PD Awards DataWorks Plus the contract for Digital PhotoManager & LiveScan Plus

September 29, 2004: DataWorks Plus' Digital PhotoManager Software is shown on NBC's Law & Order

April 28, 2004: DataWorks Plus Provides NYPD With a Statewide Domestic Violence System

2006 - Orange County Sheriff's Office, FL - Putting the Trends Into Action

Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, Florida is in the process of implementing DataWorks Plus’ NIST Manager Plus, SAF-ID, and Digital PhotoManager systems. NIST Manager Plus is used as a fingerprint archive and retrieval system. Coupled with SAF-ID it is able to perform positive identification at intake and release.

In order to most effectively assist Orange County with their needs, DataWorks Plus created an interface to accept ten-print cards from a third party vendor’s live scan, store them in the NIST Manager Plus Archive, and then perform positive ID checks using SAF-ID. They are able to build two finger applications for positive ID using a 1:N identification at intake and a 1:1 verification at release from the jail.

This system is designed to support thousands of fingerprint scanners installed throughout Orange County. DataWorks Plus’ system will support multiple fingerprint matching applications such as field ID, jail entry/exit and positive ID in the court room. For Orange County, our products have been able to add value to other vendor’s applications in addition to DataWorks Plus applications. Additionally, 2000+ mobile users will be equipped with scanners to allow the Orange County Sheriff's Office to scan individuals prior to transport to confirm identity as well as perform warrant confirmation on-site with a photograph and a fingerprint.

Kevin Barry from Information Management Systems of Orange County Sheriff’s Office had this to say about implementing the DataWorks Plus product suite:

“We are thrilled that DataWorks Plus was able to provide an integrated solution for our photo imaging, electronic fingerprint storage and fingerprint searching needs. Their flexible system and open approach allowed us to interface with our existing live scan and photo imaging systems that are currently installed in the jail to offer county wide access to every law enforcement agency in Orange County.”

In addition to NIST Manager Plus and SAF-ID, Orange County also uses Digital PhotoManager as an investigative mug shot system. Mug shot images are provided from an interface with another vendor’s photo capture system and stored on Digital PhotoManager. Orange County uses Digital PhotoManager to retrieve mug shots and create investigative lineups.

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June 2006 – Michigan Photo Database Receives Grant, Accolades

Michigan – The Michigan State Police use Digital PhotoManager with WebWorks to provide a Statewide Network of Agency Photos, also known as SNAP. SNAP utilizes live scan technology to transmit images, fingerprints, date of arrest, and other data electronically at the time of arrest to the Michigan State Police (MSP) Criminal Justice Information Center. From there, the data is available on a secure web portal to law enforcement agencies across the state through the Michigan Criminal Justice Information Network (MICJIN).

This technology automates state-wide capture, storage, and search of the booking photos with affiliated data and integrates the information to automated fingerprint IDs and data. This gives local law enforcement immediate access to the state repository of mug shot photos with data from any browser based client workstation on the state network twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

In order to achieve the end goal, DataWorks Plus was responsible for the conversion of databases, interfacing to the Michigan State live scan booking process by connecting to the State of Michigan’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) using EFTS NIST record. DataWorks Plus has also interfaced with Michigan’s Oracle based Criminal History Record (CHR) System.

The delivered system consisted of a Central Image Repository (CIR) for up to 2,000,000 image records, a backup repository, client workstation software, client web browser access, and facial recognition search capabilities.

Digital PhotoManager allows Michigan law enforcement agencies to access images, conduct digital line-ups, create missing and wanted posters, and to perform facial recognition searches. The facial recognition capability lets an investigator search the database for similar facial characteristics to locate possible matches.

A press release issued by the Michigan State Police in April of 2006 stated, “SNAP was introduced almost three years ago. At that time, it contained approximately 150,000 images and now the State database exceeds one million images. Today there are 49 law enforcement agencies retrieving images from SNAP.”

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March 2006 – Yolo County Sheriff's Department Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Photo Imaging and Livescan System

Woodland, CA – The Yolo County Sheriff's Department (YCSD) has awarded a contract to DataWorks Plus for a combined Mugshot Photo Imaging and LiveScan Plus Ten Print/Palm Print System. The system's architecture includes both photo capture and fingerprint capture technology for regional law enforcement booking purposes. The system will be used by the Yolo County Sheriff's Department, Winters Police Department, West Sacramento Police Department, Woodland Police Department, Davis Police Department, and the County Juvenile facility. The system will capture Front/Side Facial Views, Scars, Marks, Tattoos and Ten Prints/Palm Prints of Arrestees to be used with the county repository. The finger print capture device is the Identix 3800 system utilizing whole palm capture, sending the NIST fingerprint files to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department before they are sent to the California Department of Justice. The system will enhance the Departments’ abilities to share data and photos with other agencies in the region, as well as significantly improve their workflow in the counties booking environment. The jails and Police Departments will also benefit from a smaller footprint with the mugshot system and livescan system occupying the same space. The YCSD expects the integrated system and all its components to function as an essential, effective, and integral part of each agency’s booking system.

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September 2005 – San Diego County Sheriff's Department Awards Contract for Digital Mugshot Management System

San Diego, CA – DataWorks Plus will supply San Diego County Sheriff's Department a Digital Mugshot Management and Lineup System (Digital PhotoManager). The system will capture and retrieve images locally as well as collect images and data for the Sheriff's Jail Information Management System (JIMS), Juvenile and Adult Probation, Cal-Photo, Cal-ID, Courts - Book and Release, Licensing, Cite and Release, and Registrants. Digital PhotoManager™ will capture Front/Side Facial Views, Scars, Marks, and Tattoos of Arrestees. The installation of the Digital PhotoManager mugshot management and lineup system will begin early in 2006.

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September 2005 – Austin, TX Awards Contract for Digital Management System

Austin, TX – The City of Austin, Texas awarded DataWorks Plus a contract for a digital management system for the Police Department Forensics Lab. Digital CrimeScene will be installed on 10 input stations agency wide, including at multiple substations. The City of Austin will use the system for secure management all of their crime scene records and images.

Once installed, the City of Austin will have Digital CrimeScene integrated with their Noritsu Printers. This integration will allow users to print images and image groups directly to the Noritsu Printers on the network.

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April 1, 2005 – Miami-Dade Police Department Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Photo Imaging and Facial Recognition System

Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) has awarded a contract to DataWorks Plus for a combined Juvenile/Adult Mugshot Photo Imaging (Digital PhotoManager) and Facial Recognition (Face Plus) system that will be operational 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The system's architecture includes both client/server for photo capture and web enabled technology for regional law enforcement retrieval purposes. The system will be used by the Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitations Department (MDCRD), the Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), and other local agencies for investigative and identification purposes. The system will capture Front/Side Facial Views, Scars, Marks, and Tattoos of Arrestees to be used with automated facial recognition and physical/demographic data to identify individuals and create photographic lineups. The system will enhance the Departments’ abilities to share data and photos with other agencies in the region, state, and nation. The MDPD, the JAC, and MDCRD expect the Photo Imaging System and all its components to function as an essential, effective, and integral part of each agencies’ existing information systems’ hardware and software architecture, which will also include electronic fingerprint identification, criminal justice information, and other essential criminal justice system integration.

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April 1, 2005 – Shelby County Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Inmate Booking Photo Armband System

Shelby, TN – Shelby County Government’s Sheriff’s Department (the “County”) has awarded Dataworks Plus a contract to implement an Inmate Booking Photo and Armband System (BandWorks). The system capture Arrestee Mugshot Front/Side Facial Photos as well as Scars Marks and Tattoo photos. The system will provide investigators and other Law Enforcement personnel within Shelby County Sheriff Department, Memphis Police Department, and other local agencies the ability to search and display photos using physical and demographic descriptors to find specific photos. The system will be as an investigative tool to identify suspects and create photo lineups, wanted photos, Amber Alert photos, and media release photos.

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February 4, 2005 – DataWorks Plus Expands in Local Market: Greer PD Awards DataWorks Plus Contract for Digital PhotoManager &LiveScan Plus

Greer, SC – Greer Police Department has issued DataWorks Plus a contract to install Digital PhotoManager and LiveScan Plus. LiveScan Plus is a fully integrated booking module that will capture fingerprints, mugshots and data from one integrated booking station. Greer PD has chosen to add on-line storage of ten-print records as well as the use of the on-screen print comparison feature.

reer is one of the first to use the recently enhanced LiveScan Plus system. The new system has an innovative design that significantly simplifies and shortens criminal bookings and background check procedures with the ability to digitally capture both slap and roll fingerprints. LiveScan Plus has superior image quality enhancement features specifically designed to minimize FBI fingerprint submission rejections resulting from difficult to fingerprint individuals, improperly captured images and works regardless of stains on fingers from ink, dyes, grease or dirt. Single finger and rolled impression Images produced by LiveScan Plus are consistently high quality 500 DPI images.

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9/29/2004 – DataWorks Plus' Digital PhotoManager Software Shown on NBC's Law & Order

Digital PhotoManager was seen used on NBC's Law & Order's Episode E5304, "The Brotherhood. DataWorks Plus received several calls the following days from customers who recognized Digital PhotoManager being used. The characters Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina) and Detective Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) were looking for known accomplices of a suspect. They used Digital PhotoManager to locate the information and images of one of the accomplices. Click here for more information on Law & Order's Brotherhood episode.

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4/28/2004 – DataWorks Plus Provides NYPD With a Statewide Domestic Violence System

New York, NY – The purpose of this system is to download Domestic Violence Photos from a Kodak Digital camera at desk workstations of all commands that have a domestic violence unit (each precinct and police service area, approximately 86 sites). These photos, along with case information, will be transmitted from the desk workstation to a main Photo Imaging Server at NYPD-MISD. These images and data records will be available to investigators and other users through a Photo Imaging WebRetrieve application via the NYPD network. Additionally, the Domestic Violence Photos and Data will be available, in arrest cases, for transmittal to the Mayor’s Office-DoITT for dissemination to the appropriate District Attorney’s Office.

The Domestic Violence Digital application will be added to the Precinct/Police Service Area desk workstation. This application will allow the operator to create a Domestic Violence record. The operator can key data, establish a link to Omni-Form and DIR Database, or acquire data from other sources to be determined. The operator will view photos on the Kodak Digital Camera through a USB port and the Kodak Easy Dock station. The operator will have the ability to select all or any number of photos from the camera to be added to the record. Additionally, other TWAIN compliant input devices like Photo Scanners can be attached to the Precinct workstations to input photos or other digital evidence in the future. The application will save the records to the local hard drive and continually try to forward the record to the server. This methodology will insure that a user can add records and photos regardless of whether the network or server is available. Once the record is transferred to the server successfully, the record will be removed from the local hard drive and the disk space will be recovered.

A Photo Imaging WebRetrieve Application/Website is currently in place on the NYPD WAN. Hundreds of Users are currently trained and using this application. We propose that the same application interface be used for Domestic Violence. The user would be given the choice to select from a number of databases within a single website including Arrestee, Missing Persons, Gun Permits, and Domestic Violence to search and display records with photos. This option will also eliminate the need for additional user management and activity tracking setup. Each database has its own database design, customized screens, and report formats. Access will be limited to authorized users with valid passwords and different user groups will be developed with various functions (for example, adding new cases, viewing cases, updating cases, etc.).

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728 North Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607 / Tel (864) 672-2780 / Fax (864) 672-2787
Copyright 2008© DataWorks Plus, LLC
e-mail: sales@dataworksplus.com

RE: In-Car Video

iMUG
Digital PhotoManager
LiveScan Plus
FACE Plus
SAF-ID
Web Retrieve
FACES Composite
ID Badges (BadgeWorks)
Inmate Armbands
Inmate Tracking

TAG-NABIT

Digital CrimeScene
Digital Interview

NIST Manager Plus
SAF-ID
LiveScan Plus

Inmate Management
Fusion-IM
ID Badges (BadgeWorks)
Inmate Armbands
Inmate Tracking

Digital CrimeScene allows you to easily record and accurately document a crime scene with digital security.

DataWorks Plus’ Digital CrimeScene is the most secure and efficient crime scene management system on the market today. You can rely on secure storage of forensic data, images, photos, reports, documents, drawings, and narratives for each case. All original photos are protected from any alteration, preventing any court room challenges towards image authenticity. All photos can be written to CD-ROM and into the SQL database as they are processed. Both media serve as an "Electronic Negative" which will never allow the original to be altered.

Digital CrimeScene offers search and retrieve capabilities, including the fastest image retrieval and display possible. Our system is built on standard Microsoft technology. The Central Microsoft SQL Server allows for sharing, data backup, secure data access, and disaster recovery. Images are compressed using industry standard JPEG compression and we offer extremely reliable networking using advanced WAN/LAN functionality.

Users can also create image groups for easy display and future retrieval. Image groups can be saved or printed and used for investigations or in a trial. Another benefit of Digital CrimeScene’s image groups is the ability to create calls. Each case in the Digital CrimeScene system can have multiple calls. A call is a logical grouping of the images within the case, and the administrator can choose how they would like to use the call. For example a call can represent a group of images taken at a certain time or place, or represent a certain source media, or images taken by a certain technician.

Digital CrimeScene allows for numerous types of files to be loaded and associated with any case’s call in the system. External Documents can be any file type and can be opened as long as there is an application on the computer that supports the file type. For example, a user can attach PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, videos (i.e. MPEG, AVI), audio, 3-D crime scenes, access databases, electronic sketches, and text files to a call. For example, when an MPEG video is attached, users can easily identify it by the description given to it by the user who attached the video to the call. When a user wants to view the video, Digital CrimeScene will open the appropriate video viewer that is on the workstation.

Each of the external documents attached can be given a description so everyone who views the call can know what is in the document. A system administrator may decide where to store these files. They may be stored within the SQL server management or outside that space as separate files on a secure server. Some agencies have chosen to use the Digital CrimeScene user interface as the only way used to securely access these files.

Case management enables the assigned investigator to route his notes with the photographs to the prosecutor or other forensic experts. DataWorks Plus utilizes Microsoft's SQL Server robust database management system. SQL Server allows us to deliver a secure product, while still utilizing Microsoft's industry standard open architecture platform.

Perhaps the most functional aspect of the DataWorks Plus system is that all display and printing requirements are custom designed for your agency’s needs. Custom fields and codes ensure that all necessary information for cases, calls, and images will be recorded. This system is ideal for multi-departmental or multi-agency central services application. Data can be selectively shared with other agencies (including courts and prosecutors), eliminating special printing requests, travel, and manpower associated with those requests. This is accomplished through customizable security that allows an agency to create a secure user ID for individuals to view agency data from their PC with an Internet Explorer connection. Generally, this savings alone can justify the purchase of a Digital CrimeScene system within one year.

Digital photography eliminates the need to wait for a photo lab to develop, print, and deliver photographs. All photos can be previewed immediately and retaken if not satisfactory. Digital photographs are stored as electronic files on a variety of re-usable storage devices similar to floppy disks. Developing digital photos is as easy as transferring the files from the storage device to a computer. This eliminates the need for a darkroom, expensive chemicals and accompanying OSHA requirements. Your existing photo library can easily be converted into a digital format using a high-speed film scanner. And, as you move your photo lab to a digital format, we provide the ability to use high-quality digital cameras as your primary capture source for your Digital Crime Lab.

What about my existing film-based cameras?

Digital CrimeScene allows photos captured on 35mm film to be scanned into the system and cataloged alongside photos taken with digital cameras. Creating prints is as easy as retrieving the photo and printing to any Windows NT compatible printer. Single photos can be printed with data describing the photo or a proof sheet with all the photos from an event can be generated.

Digital CrimeScene archives photographs to CD ROM as they are entered into the system and catalogs photos for retrieval and printing. Digital CrimeScene utilizes the power and security of the Microsoft Windows NT and SQL Server in virtually any networking scheme to provide real-time access to photos to users anywhere on the network. By using Internet Explorer 60 as the client, authorized users may log into the web-enabled system from any PC on their enterprise system.

Integration with existing hardware and other products

DataWorks Plus offers turnkey solutions which include everything necessary to begin production. However, we will also work with the customer to integrate any existing equipment into the Digital CrimeScene solution. It also easily interfaces with other software products, such as photo-editing packages and e-mail. Copies of photos can be modified or sent across the country with ease.

Click on either of the links below to view the brochures:*

Ad: Digital CrimeScene
Flyer: Digital CrimeScene

*The download of the brochures requires Acrobat Reader.

Request a Quote Where to Get Grant Money Digital Interview Cost Justifications

728 North Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607 / Tel (864) 672-2780 / Fax (864) 672-2787
Copyright 2008© DataWorks Plus, LLC
e-mail: sales@dataworksplus.com

RE: In-Car Video

How to find funding for digital projects;

iMUG
Digital PhotoManager
LiveScan Plus
FACE Plus
SAF-ID
Web Retrieve
FACES Composite
ID Badges (BadgeWorks)
Inmate Armbands
Inmate Tracking

TAG-NABIT

Digital CrimeScene
Digital Interview

NIST Manager Plus
SAF-ID
LiveScan Plus

Inmate Management
Fusion-IM
ID Badges (BadgeWorks)
Inmate Armbands
Inmate Tracking

Sample Cost Justification Proposals/GRANT WRITING

The following are two sample cost justifications that can be used when proposing the use of the Digital CrimeScene System.

Cost Justification I discusses:

limitations and time consuming process of outdated image management
time constraints placed on investigators
limited availability of photographs
35mm format versus digital
benefits of using a system such as Digital CrimeScene
cost savings of digital images and reduction in printing
proposed system deployment using a system such as Dgitial CrimeScene
Click here to download a Microsoft Word version of this document.

Cost Justification II discusses:

downsides of 35mm and Poloroid photography
benefits of digital photography
Digital CrimeScene product overview
California Evidence Code Section 1500.6
cost and time savings
increased number of closed cases filed for prosecution
Click here to download a Microsoft Word version of this document.

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Cost Justification I
1. Objective:

The My Police Department provides law enforcement services to over 900,000 residents who reside and/or work in a 178 square mile area. The department is a dynamic, progressive and professional organization dedicated to promotion of a high quality of life for the city’s diverse population.The department is comprised of 1,363 budgeted sworn personnel and 448 non-sworn personnel. Of these, the Bureau of Investigations has a staff of 213 sworn investigators and 14 command officers. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, proactive and reactive investigation of criminal activity involving persons and property.

The tasks of investigators continue to become more complex, and corresponding demands on them increase. The current method for handling photographs associated with cases is cumbersome, slow, and contributes little to the initial investigation process and the later filing of criminal complaints. Human error, misplaced photographs, and equipment malfunctions at times hinder successful criminal prosecutions.

For example, in a domestic violence arrest, police investigators have a 48-hour window with which charges can be filed and in an in custody file submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review. For non-death cases, photographs are not available within this time frame. Without this compelling evidence, the severity of the crime can be diminished because injuries cannot be described vividly as depicted in photographs. In the absence of photographs, investigators may determine that the case does not contain enough evidence to pursue, or the District Attorney’s office can decide that a case is not compelling enough to prosecute. Moreover, photographic evidence can act as a “tie-breaker” in marginal cases where guilt or exoneration is not easily determined. There have been cases where a suspect was released after a 48-hour period. After the evidentiary photographs became available, investigators had to obtain an arrest warrant and re-arrest the suspect.

Not only is this process time-consuming, it constitutes additional risk for the investigators, the public, and potential victims. The suspect now knows he or she is under scrutiny and will be more apt to flee, resist arrest, or re-offend. The ready availability of case photographs would reduce the number of hard core criminals released at the time of arraignment.

In one instance, while a particularly violent repeat domestic violence offender was in custody, the District Attorney's Office deemed that the police report, which was factual but terse, did not present sufficient evidence to file charges. Photographs were not readily available. Because this was a particularly violent offense, and police investigators felt that this suspect was likely to re-offend, the investigator returned to the scene of the crime, re-contacted the victim, and persuaded her to allow Polaroid photographs to be taken of her injuries. Had these last minute photographs not been available for District Attorney review, the entire criminal complaint process could have taken up to two weeks. The suspect would have been released from custody at the time of arraignment: since statistics show that domestic violence victims are in particular danger of being assaulted again during the days following police contact, the victim would have been in grave physical danger during this time.

Currently, photographs are shot during the preliminary investig