Advantages of HD Network-Based Audio/Video Recording in Police Interview Rooms Recording police interviews allows no tolerance for unintelligible, missed or lost recordings. Every police interview recording video system should offer high-quality video and audio footage, yet be unobtrusive and easy to use. Analog systems have been common police interview room equipment for a long time. However, as technology has advanced rapidly, network-based A/V recording systems that utilize HD IP camera technology now provide a superior approach for recording police interviews. This Whitepaper shows you the advantages of network-based audio/video recording, which allow for HD quality video recordings to be viewed live, cataloged, archived and played back easily across the network. Network-based audio/video recording can be integrated within an existing network infrastructure, to allow for secure access to video recorded interviews in stunning HD quality.



1490 North Clinton Ave, Bay Shore NY 11706 www.ipvideocorp.com | 631.969.2600

INDEX

1. Network-Based Audio/Video Recording 101 2. Advantages of a Network-Based A/V Recording Platform 3. How a Network-Based A/V Recording Platform Should Work 4. Impact of Network-Based A/V Recording on Police Interviews a. Protects officers from allegations of coerced confessions or mistreatment of suspects b. Remote placement of recording server and control station makes recording technology unobtrusive c. Centralized recording of multiple rooms to a single powerful server d. Officers can remotely view interviews live, over the network







Network-Based Audio/Video Recording 101



What are the main components of a Network-Based A/V recording platform? There are several key components, however the most critical ones are as follows: • IP Cameras • Audio Input from microphones or an audio mixer • The Network (LAN or WAN) • Server & Storage

Network-based A/V recording involves leveraging power over Ethernet (PoE) to provide power and transfer data to and from an IP cameras and other network devices via a PoE network switch. Video files are recorded to a dedicated server and then made available on the network and remotely via internet access. Audio can be captured by use of powered microphones connected to the audio input of the IP cameras. Additionally, an audio source from an audio mixer can also be connected to the audio input of the IP cameras, recorded directly to the server on the network.

Advantages of a Network-Based A/V Recording Platform Superior Image Quality with IP Cameras, versus typical analog cameras • Megapixel, HD Quality: Image quality is clearly one of the most important features of any camera, if not the most important • Low-light Capabilities: Many IP cameras use Infrared illumination to enhance the visual content being captured in very low-light environments such as darkened rooms, resulting in a bright and vibrant image quality • Digital quality does NOT degrade when traveling over a network • Compressed video files are easily stored and easy to back up Analog Resolution Megapixel Resolution Sometimes, audio and video being recorded simultaneously over a network system become out of synch after a few minutes of recording (camera & microphone). However, when done right, recorded audio and video can be perfectly synchronized, resulting in crystal clear video and audio perfectly aligned regardless of the duration time of a video file.



Advantages of a Network-Based A/V Recording Platform Network-Based A/V Recording platforms provide scalability and flexibility to grow, as a police departments’ specific A/V needs broaden over time, in a cost effective method; whereas typical appliance-type recording platforms provide strong limitations that make expansion a burdensome and expensive prospect. A true network recording platform also allows for secure and remote access to video content, giving additional flexibility to its many applications. And by leveraging the power of the network by PoE, installations can be done easily, reliably and cost effectively.



How a Network-Based A/V Recording Platform Should Work Ease of Use is a Necessity: The interface needs to be simple and easy to use to encourage appropriate usage and application. There should be no need for complex navigation to allow for officers to become fully versed and trained with minimal effort. Recordings should be able to be initiated with the push of a button as opposed to complicated commands and configurations.

Live View

Archive Playback

Officers should also be able to access archived and live video from the server since the system resides on the network.



How a Network-Based A/V Recording Platform Should Work Simple Search and Location of Archived Video Files: Archived video files should be able to be searched and located by numerous parameters such as a case number, title of the recorded session, subject’s name, interviewing officer, date or date range, interview room name or number, or any combination of said parameters. This allows for the correlation or archived video files with similar parameters identified in a simple search. A good Network-Based A/V Recording system should have flexible administrative controls which require all officers to login with a secure username and password. The system should also support permissions and user groups that properly reflect the police departments’ policies and Username: procedures to ensure that officers only have access to video files and system functionality as deemed Password: appropriate according to their specific user permissions.

LOGIN CREDENTIALS



How a Network-Based A/V Recording Platform Should Work Video Bookmarking and why is it important? Video bookmarks are virtual “chapters” that can be inserted into a video file either during or after a recorded session that label and time-stamp certain important moments during interview such as specific subjects or highlights. When playing an archived video back, an officer can jump right to that specified “chapter” or important moment by clicking on the video bookmark, making the playback experience a more efficient one. • Insert in Live or Post Recordings • Ability to name each Bookmark • Use of wireless Key Fob • Ability to name each Bookmark post recording Add Notes for Each Session • Insert detailed notes wither Live or Post Recordings • Perform video searches based on Key Words from Notes • Easy Export of Video Files by burning to DVD or exporting as an .MP4



Impact of Network-Based A/V Recording on Police Interviews



Protecting officers from allegations of coerced confessions or mistreatment of interview subjects: One of the biggest issues faced by law enforcement officials, and the reason an increasing number of agencies are recording interrogations in their entirety, relates to allegations that mistreatment of a suspect by officers resulted in a coerced confession. By recording interviews in HD quality with IP cameras, a network-based recording system helps to protect a police department from said allegations because the truth is in the video. • IP Cameras record in HD quality and cover the entire room • Proper camera placement ensures that there are no blind spots in the room • Both cameras record simultaneously to ensure all viewpoints are covered in HD quality Remote placement of recording server and control station makes recording technology unobtrusive: A network-based A/V recording system allows for the recording server to be placed in a secure network closet and nit within the actual interview room. The only components included in the room are the IP cameras, microphone and mounted start/stop button. • Simple configuration of hardware and accessories • Overt and covert options available for discretion



Impact of Network-Based A/V Recording on Police Interviews Centralized recording of multiple rooms to a single powerful server: Gone are the days of a single DVR handling the recording of one or two interview rooms independently. With a network-based A/V recording platform, multiple rooms can record simultaneously to one central server providing a secure, manageable and efficient recording and playback experience. • Multiple rooms/locations record to one secure server on either an open or closed network • Servers can utilize RAID configuration to ensure redundancy and system reliability • Officers can access the live and archived video files from all rooms on the server and do not need to go to individual DVRs Officers can remotely view interviews live, over the network: A network-based A/V recording system provides the most in system flexibility providing officers with access to both live and archived video recordings of interviews from anywhere with secure access to the network. An officer can remotely participate in the review of an interview via the network. In conclusion, a Network-based A/V Recording system improves the police interview process by protecting officers from allegations of coerced confessions or mistreatment of suspects with full coverage of the interview in HD quality, providing officers with easy-to-use and unobtrusive technology, ability to record multiple rooms and locations securely to a single powerful server, and providing officers with the flexibility to remotely view interviews live, over the network.