Kitsap County Sheriffs Office Policy and Procedure for Digital Imaging Photography Statement: The Kistap County

Sheriffs Office recognizes the use of electronic/digital camera imaging as valid and proven technology for recording, enhancing and printing images and like conventional silver-halide based photography, it is accepted by professional commercial photographers, law enforcement photographers and the identification community. The quality and reliability of digital images is dependant upon the technical specifications of the equipment, the quality control procedures and the training experience and ability of the photographer or imaging specialist. Digital camera imaging will be used for capture and storage of any evidence such as the overall crime scene, latent fingerprints, trace evidence or any objects of an evidentiary nature, whether it be a violent crime, crimes against person/property or traffic related incidents, for the purposes of comparison or analysis Definitions: Digital Camera Any camera that uses an electronic capture process to store the digital image picture on a magnetic type media. (Example; memory stick, compact flash cards, CDs). Resolution Digital images are composed of picture elements or pixels, the more pixel elements that make up the digital image will usually give you the better quality image. Compression All digital cameras use some type of image compression to reduce storage requirements. Some cameras will allow the user to override the compression setting and save images uncompressed. This is generally found on more expensive cameras. Original Digital Image Original An image stored in numerical form that is an accurate and complete replica of the first instance in which an image is recorded onto any media. Enhancement Any process intended to improve the visual appearance of an image. Digital Camera Images Procedures 1. A thorough familiarization and understanding of the digital camera must be accomplished prior to any usage by reading and utilizing the instruction manual and any accessory information accompanying the digital camera. 2. Digital Camera Imaging can be used for capture and storage of any evidence such as the overall crime scene, latent fingerprints, trace evidence or any objects of an evidentiary nature, whether it be a violent crime, crimes against person/property or traffic related incidents, for the purposes of comparison or analysis. 3. The digital camera will be set to zero or it lowest compression setting. Depending on the camera, this means the image will be captured in an uncompressed, lossless, 1

Tagged Image File or TIF file or the lossy compression format Joint Photographic Experts Group or JPEG file. 4. The resolution on the digital camera should be set to the highest setting for the best images. No image enhancement shall take place to the image using cameras built in capabilities. 5. When using a camera that utilizes a memory stick type medium, the original images will be transferred to a CDR using the appropriate transferring software. This transferring of images will be done as soon as possible. This burned CDR will be treated as the original and entered into property. Once the transfer is complete, the memory stick medium maybe cleared and put back into use. When using a digital camera that utilizes a mini CD type medium, the operator may choose to use a mini CDR in the camera in which case the original images will be maintained on this medium. In lieu of a mini CDR, a mini CDRW can be used in the camera. If a CDRW is used the operator will transfer the original images to a full size CDR using the appropriate transferring software. This full size CDR will be the original and entered into property. Once the transfer is complete, the mini CDRW maybe cleared and put back in use. 6. The investigator may make duplicate copies from the original CDR to be used for image enhancements, in the investigators case file or for the Prosecutors file. Each copy made will be accounted for with documentation in the case report or case file by the lead investigator. 7. When enhancing digital images, the individual doing the processing must record any and all steps taken to enhance the image file. Recordings of any steps or procedures should be in writing and must be of sufficient detail that any person with comparable skills can repeat the process and achieve the same results. By enhancing only duplicate copies, the original is maintained in an unaltered state. 8. Working copies of digital images for an investigation maybe requested through the assigned investigating individual. 9. Anyone who captures a digital image for use as evidence must be able to verify that the original image is a true and accurate representation of the object or scene that was digitally captured. Appen dix- Related Information Court Decisions: Eric Hayden vs. State of Washington Roger Dolan vs. State of Florida International Association for Identification Resolution 97-9 Forensic Digital Imaging, Eric Berg, Forensic Services Supervisor, Tacoma P.D. Digital Imaging for Photographers 4th Edition, Adrian Davies & Phil Fennessy
(revised 11-06-03)