There's a Reason for Your Digital Media Policy

Every agency should have a policy for digital media. The tragic details of one family’s nightmare when accident scene photos of their teen daughter were leaked to the internet serves as our vivid reminder.

Any well-crafted policy will govern:

• Downloading and archiving all digital media, including still, audio and video;
• Retrieving media for review for follow-up and/or report writing;
• Department equipment use and maintenance, including settings;
• Verification of file size before and after downloading media;
• Documentation and photographer;
• Saving, altering, deleting;
• Approved and acceptable formats for district attorney;
• Proprietary media;
• Duplication and release; 
• Fee schedule;
• Storage, retention, and disposal.

That this family continues to suffer through their tragedy should press all those responsible for collecting, retaining and distributing photos for evidentiary value to follow their agency’s digital media policy.