Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Technology Upgrades

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office proposes to implement the Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Technology Upgrades Program.  Body-worn cameras have proven effective in the investigation phase and in the prosecution phase of the criminal case by recording details of the crime scene such as physical injuries, witness statements, or confessions.  The objective evidence recorded on the body-worn camera will aid the prosecutor by corroborating the evidence presented by the investigator.  The purpose of the program is to replace a body-worn camera program that was implemented in 2015 and has been plagued with problems.  The cameras are outdated, and the servers that store body camera videos crashed resulting in the loss of videos.  This program will provide more advanced body-worn cameras for officers, provide an effective storage and management system to track videos, and make the videos more accessible for prosecutors.  Project activities include purchasing new body-worn cameras, docking/charging stations, and access to an unlimited data storage system.  Expected outcomes include upgrading the body-worn cameras; implementing an unlimited data storage system; making videos more accessible for prosecutors; providing recorded, objective evidence for court; providing the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County more transparency in police actions.