NCJ Number
203183
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2003 Pages: 96-97,100,102
Date Published
October 2003
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the standard operating procedures for preserving forensic digital images.
Abstract
As technology improves, old technology that was once widely used becomes out-dated and no longer usable. The possibility of not being able to retrieve old digital images because of technological advances is particularly troublesome for law enforcement officers who may depend on old photographs and images to solve current criminal cases. Digital images must be stored carefully so as to preserve them for the longest time possible. The Scientific Working Group for Imaging Technology (SWGIT) developed digital imagining standard operating procedures (SOP) based on their research. SWGIT provides recommendations for capturing, storing, processing, analyzing, and transmitting images. It is recommended that all forensic images be stored on compact flash (CF) cards, CD-R’s, or DVD’s. Recommendations are offered for how to properly handle and store these types of media for future use. However, since technology is constantly changing, it is also recommended that law enforcement agencies produce and store printed copies of all their digital images. Specific recommendations on how to store printed images are provided, as is a review of three recommended printers, the Kodak 8660 Thermal Dye Sublimation Printer, the Epson 2200 Inkjet Printer, and the HP 7550 Inkjet Printer. Three textboxes about digital evidence and image capture complete the article.