Grand Rapids, Michigan, has seen an increasing presence of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in recent years. These cameras are intended to protect property and business owners, prevent crime and instill confidence in the general public.
CCTV plays a key role as evidence in many criminal cases by identifying suspects and giving a clear picture of what exactly happened. But is this picture always clear? Outlined below are a few reasons why CCTV is not foolproof.
They only cover so much
Modern CCTV systems are high quality and they can cover a vast area. Nonetheless, they may not cover everything. For criminal cases, it’s important that every detail is accurately documented. For instance, the crux of the case may depend on what direction the accused came from or where they headed to after the alleged offense.
Not all cameras are high-quality
The quality of footage or pictures from CCTV systems can vary. Older systems may have grainy footage or they might only show pictures in frames rather than full videos. For a person to be identified accurately, the footage or pictures need to be crystal clear. Older and cheaper systems don’t always offer this quality.
Poor night vision
Not all camera systems are designed to accurately capture events that happen when it’s dark. Crime can happen at any time of the day, but alleged offenses often happen at night time when nobody else is around. Unless the CCTV system is fitted with state-of-the-art night vision technology, it could miss key events in the dark and may not be able to identify the suspect accurately.
If CCTV evidence has been used in your case, then it can be challenged. Seeking as much legal information as possible will help you to build a solid defense.