TREC requests the original crime scene video tape for the Forensic Video Image Analysis.  TREC avoids copy tapes for Forensic Video Image Analysis where the original video is available.  Justification for the original video crime scene tape for Forensic Video Image Analysis follows:

    As an aspect of TREC’s presentations at law enforcement workshops, tape copy is given very serious attention. Video tapes from crime scene situations are normally of poor quality. The video tape copy of the poor quality original video normally results in a poorer quality video, i.e. information is lost in the copy process. Slides of images showing the loss are presented at the workshops along with the following table on the next page titled,

"Tape Copy Loss S-VHS Study."

    The reference is to a study and report by Peter Utz, Panasonic Corporation, presented at the 1992 NATIA (National Technical Investigators Association) workshop. (NATIA is the national organization for sworn technical service officers through the nation.)

    Forensic Video Image Analysis can ill afford to lose information that might be pertinent to a crime scene situation, i.e. perpetrator identification, recognition of a unique feature characteristic, license plate alphanumeric, etc. Therefore, every effort must be put forth to obtain the original crime scene video tape for Forensic Video Image Analysis. That effort includes, where necessary, filing a motion before the court requesting the production of the original crime scene video from the custodian of the data to TREC's facility.

* Reference: Peter Utz, NATIA presentation 1992
Panasonic AG 7500A S-VHS VCR, Panasonic Basic Video Guide

    Note that the referenced study is for Super VHS (Video Home System). The results for the more common VHS tapes, a lower resolution medium, are worse. 

 Use of copy tapes of incidences for Forensic Video Image Analysis should be avoided where possible.

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