Project Management

REPRINT

iRecord gives the Addison Police Department an efficient process for suspect interviews

Written by PSIT Staff

The Addison Police Department is responsible for the 12 square miles of Addison, IL and the 39,000 people who reside there. The department values all of its citizens and respects their right to live in a safe and nurturing community, free from all forms of oppression. There are more than 100 members of the nationally accredited department who work hard to keep the community of Addison safe and free from harm and wrongdoing.

An integral part of the Addison Police Department is the interviews that are conducted with the suspects of crimes. In these interviews, suspects are given the opportunity to tell their side of the story, with the interviewer attempting to get the suspect to divulge information or confess to a crime. Some interviews need to be recorded for evidence in the pending cases, and they need to contain as much information as possible.

A new legislative statute was introduced that requires Illinois law enforcement agencies to electronically record custodial interviews for certain criminal violations, most of which involve homicides. The Addison Police Department was already searching for an easy and efficient electronic recording system prior to the new legislation. The department was initially using a video camera or voice recorder to record the interviews, but officers were aware that the most accurate and efficient method of collecting and preserving confession evidence was by using a sophisticated and reliable digital video recording system.

The Solution
The Addison Police Department searched for a recording system that would provide them with state-of-the-art technology, as well as ease of use. The department was looking for a system that offered compatibility between the police station and the courts. After evaluating other recording systems, the department decided that iRecord from Word Systems Inc. was the best all-around solution.

“iRecord is not only easy to use and operate, but [it] exceeded all of our expectations in terms of the functionality and state-of-the-art technology behind it,” said Commander Mark Van Stedum.

iRecord is a digital video recording and management system designed specifically for interview. It is intended to increase detective efficiency through the electronic recording and management of interviews. The system was designed by law enforcement professionals and is built to be in full compliance with current and emerging legislation.

iRecord features one-touch recording and VHS-style controls that make recording an interview as simple as possible. The system offers storage space savings by replacing older types of VHS and cassette tapes with CD/DVD technology. It also eliminates the issues associated with large amounts of archiving necessities by enabling users to store multiple years of interviews online with the iRecord Evidence Vault ™ technology.

iRecord provides a simple and proficient recording system for the Addison Police Department, allowing all professionals involved in the interviews to witness the interviews. The Addison Police Department has been using iRecord for four years, and officers average one to three interviews per week using iRecord.

“There is never any doubt when we use iRecord,” said Scott Sullivan, a 24-year veteran of the department. “There can be no dispute as to what was said because the video is there for the prosecution and the defense to see.”

The department has placed a covert camera and microphone in its three interview rooms. The interview displays in real time on a computer screen in another room so that the interview can be viewed by others not physically in the interview room. iRecord then burns the interview onto a DVD that can be viewed by all parties involved and can easily be viewed in court as evidence in the pending case. iRecord is user friendly, allowing the police officers, prosecutors, and anyone else involved to easily record and manage interviews.

“We can easily train our officers and detectives to use the system in 20 to 30 minutes,” Sullivan said. “Training is minimal, and they can start using the system right away.”

Future Plans
The Addison Police Department plans to use iRecord to its fullest capacity. iRecord will continue to upgrade the software, while also enhancing the functionality. “iRecord continues to save us time and money,” Van Stedum said. “Since we are able to view exactly what was said on the video, there are no questions, making it less likely the case will go to trial.” n