Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a news release Monday the platform contains 107,478 items of digital evidence, including video, audio and photos, thanks to the efforts of the county Board of Commissioners and county Information Technology Department.
Lucido is implementing a digital evidence management system at Evidence.com, which is a cloud-based system that allows prosecutors and police agencies to manage, review, and share digital evidence, particularly video evidence, he said. Local police agencies are working with the Prosecutor's Office to start sharing evidence using the new system, and defense lawyers can readily access information to defend their clients.
Lucido presented the need to the board last year at his budget presentation.
"The County Commissioners saw the need for a better way to disclose digital evidence and their efforts have achieved results for crime victims, law enforcement, and the public in our county," Lucido said. "We are challenged by a continuing increase in the amount of digital evidence, including body cameras, patrol car video, cell phone video, home and business security video, and more. We need to see it, and jurors expect to see it."
Video and audio evidence are often presented to juries at criminal trials and hearings in Macomb County's circuit and district courts.
For use of the platform, the Commission last December approved a five-year contract with Axon, which operates the evidence system, at a cost of $357,000, including an initial $68,000 from the county capital improvement fund, as a result of a bid process.
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