336 - Public Safety Video Surveillance System
336.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidance for the placement and monitoring of office public safety video surveillance, as well as the storage and release of the captured images.
This policy only applies to overt, marked public safety video surveillance systems operated by the Office. It does not apply to mobile audio/video systems, covert audio/video systems or any other image-capturing devices used by the Office.
336.2 POLICY
The Hartwell County Sheriff’s Department operates a public safety video surveillance system to complement its anti-crime strategy, to effectively allocate and deploy personnel, and to enhance public safety and security in public areas. Cameras may be placed in strategic locations throughout the County to detect and deter crime, to help safeguard against potential threats to the public, to help manage emergency response situations during natural and man-made disasters and to assist County officials in providing services to the community.
Video surveillance in public areas will be conducted in a legal and ethical manner while recognizing and protecting constitutional standards of privacy.
336.3 OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
Only office-approved video surveillance equipment shall be utilized. Members authorized to monitor video surveillance equipment should only monitor public areas and public activities where no reasonable expectation of privacy exists. The Sheriff or the authorized designee shall approve all proposed locations for the use of video surveillance technology and should consult with and be guided by legal counsel as necessary in making such determinations.
336.3.1 PLACEMENT AND MONITORING
Camera placement will be guided by the underlying purpose or strategy associated with the overall video surveillance plan. As appropriate, the Sheriff should confer with other affected County divisions and designated community groups when evaluating camera placement. Environmental factors, including lighting, location of buildings, presence of vegetation, or other obstructions, should also be evaluated when determining placement. The cameras shall only record video images and not sound. Recorded images may be used for a variety of purposes, including criminal investigations and monitoring of activity around high-value or high-threat areas. The public video surveillance system may be useful for the following purposes:
- To prevent, deter, and identify criminal activity.
- To target identified areas of gang and narcotics complaints or activity.
- To respond to critical incidents.
- To assist in identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting offenders.
- To document deputy and offender conduct during interactions to safeguard the rights of the public and deputies.
- To augment resources in a cost-effective manner.
- To monitor pedestrian and vehicle traffic activity.
Images from each camera should be recorded in a manner consistent with the underlying purpose of the particular camera. Images should be transmitted to monitors installed in the Administrative Bureau’s office and Dispatch. When activity warranting further investigation is reported or detected at any camera location, the available information should be provided to responding deputies in a timely manner. The Administrative Bureau or trained personnel in Dispatch are authorized to adjust the cameras to more effectively view a particular area for any legitimate public safety purpose.
The Sheriff may authorize video feeds from the public safety video surveillance system to be forwarded to a specified location for monitoring by other than sheriff's personnel, such as allied government agencies, road or traffic crews, or fire or emergency operations personnel.
336.3.2 CAMERA MARKINGS
All public areas monitored by public safety surveillance equipment shall be marked in a conspicuous manner with appropriate signs to inform the public that the area is under sheriff's surveillance. Signs should be well lit, placed appropriately and without obstruction to ensure visibility.
336.3.3 INTEGRATION WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGY
The Office may elect to integrate its public safety video surveillance system with other technology to enhance available information. Systems such as gunshot detection, incident mapping, crime analysis, license plate recognition, facial recognition and other video-based analytical systems may be considered based upon availability and the nature of office strategy.
The Office should evaluate the availability and propriety of networking or otherwise collaborating with appropriate private sector entities and should evaluate whether the use of certain camera systems, such as pan-tilt-zoom systems and video enhancement or other analytical technology, requires additional safeguards.
336.4 VIDEO SUPERVISION
Supervisors should monitor video surveillance access and usage to ensure members are within office policy and applicable laws. Supervisors should ensure such use and access is appropriately documented.
336.4.1 VIDEO LOG
A log should be maintained at all locations where video surveillance monitors are located. The log should be used to document all persons not assigned to the monitoring locations who have been given access to view or monitor images provided by the video surveillance cameras. The logs should, at a minimum, record the:
- Date and time access was given.
- Name and agency of the person being given access to the images.
- Name of person authorizing access.
- Identifiable portion of images viewed.
336.4.2 PROHIBITED ACTIVITY
Public safety video surveillance systems will not intentionally be used to invade the privacy of individuals or observe areas where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.
Public safety video surveillance equipment shall not be used in an unequal or discriminatory manner and shall not target individuals or groups based solely on actual or perceived characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, economic status, age, cultural group, or disability.
Video surveillance equipment shall not be used to harass, intimidate, or discriminate against any individual or group.
336.5 STORAGE AND RETENTION OF MEDIA
All downloaded media shall be stored in a secure area with access restricted to authorized persons. A recording needed as evidence shall be copied to a suitable medium and booked into evidence in accordance with established evidence procedures. All actions taken with respect to retention of media shall be appropriately documented.
The type of video surveillance technology employed and the manner in which recordings are used and stored will affect retention periods. The recordings should be stored and retained in accordance with the established records retention schedule and for a minimum of one year. Prior to destruction, written consent shall be obtained from the County Counsel. If recordings are evidence in any claim filed or any pending litigation, they shall be preserved until pending litigation is resolved (Government Code § 34090.6).
Any recordings needed as evidence in a criminal or civil proceeding shall be copied to a suitable medium and booked into evidence in accordance with current evidence procedures.
336.5.1 EVIDENTIARY INTEGRITY
All downloaded and retained media shall be treated in the same manner as other evidence. Media shall be accessed, maintained, stored and retrieved in a manner that ensures its integrity as evidence, including strict adherence to chain of custody requirements.
Electronic trails, including encryption, digital masking of innocent or uninvolved individuals to preserve anonymity, authenticity certificates and date and time stamping, shall be used as appropriate to preserve individual rights and to ensure the authenticity and maintenance of a secure evidentiary chain of custody.
336.6 RELEASE OF VIDEO IMAGES
All recorded video images gathered by the public safety video surveillance equipment are for the official use of the Hartwell County Sheriff’s Department.
Requests for recorded video images from the public or the media shall be processed in the same manner as requests for office public records.
Requests for recorded images from other law enforcement agencies shall be referred to the Administrative Bureau for release in accordance with a specific and legitimate law enforcement purpose.
Recorded video images that are the subject of a court order or subpoena shall be processed in accordance with the established office subpoena process.
336.7 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AUDIT
The Sheriff or the authorized designee will conduct an annual review of the public safety video surveillance system. The review should include an analysis of the cost, benefit and effectiveness of the system, including any public safety issues that were effectively addressed or any significant prosecutions that resulted, and any systemic operational or administrative issues that were identified, including those related to training, discipline or policy.
The results of each review shall be appropriately documented and maintained by the Sheriff or the authorized designee and other applicable advisory bodies. Any recommendations for training or policy should be promptly addressed.
336.8 TRAINING
All office members authorized to operate or access public video surveillance systems shall receive appropriate training. Training should include guidance on the use of cameras, interaction with dispatch and patrol operations and a review regarding relevant policies and procedures, including this policy. Training should also address state and federal law related to the use of video surveillance equipment and privacy.
Child and Dependent Adult Safety