A digital evidence management system (DEMS) must be storage-agnostic and scalable, offer flexible deployment choices and track chain-of-custody evidence.
FREMONT, CA: A DEMS is a virtual command center that handles all digital evidence a police force obtains. Every year, police departments need help in managing increased digital evidence. Officers and detectives increasingly deal with crime scene images, taped interviews, citizen-shared digital evidence, and low-cost digital CCTV equipment. In addition, several agencies have implemented in-car and body-worn camera (BWC) systems, which require high-resolution footage to be saved and managed, even for minor police calls.
The CCTV market has reached a tipping point. Security camera systems are now reasonably priced, record high-quality video, and are simple to install and configure. Cloud-based systems may be installed in minutes by anybody with a wireless internet connection. Minimal technical skills are required.
Essential features to look for in a DEMS solution:
Scalable and independent of storage: The DEMS one chooses should be adaptable and compatible with a wide range of storage options. For example, a small police agency may decide to keep evidence internally on a Synology NAS, while larger agencies may choose for more expensive hybrid on-premise/cloud systems. The DEMS should also be expandable, allowing departments to add storage capacity or connect several storage solutions.
Be wary of vendors who propose committing to their proprietary storage systems, as maintaining the DEMS may become prohibitively expensive each year. Furthermore, moving digital evidence from a proprietary system to a new one can be complex and costly.
Tracking the chain of custody for evidence: Digital evidence, like physical evidence, must be tracked in detail throughout its existence. One of the most fundamental functions of a DEMS is tracking the chain of custody of digital evidence.
A DEMS will track who has accessed individual files and when case evidence was viewed, downloaded, printed, or shared. The system should also have comprehensive reporting tools that enable investigators to quickly produce chain-of-custody reports outlining every interaction since the digital evidence was initially imported into the system. This not only ensures the integrity of digital evidence for court, but it also provides police administrators with capabilities to identify how digital evidence may have been unlawfully viewed or even shared outside of the department.
