re: Durham Police Department tape use policy calls for tapes to be reused after 60 days
If this is indeed the policy, it is ridiculous to begin with! The concept of a "speedy trial" is an ideal that rarely occurs. I imagine that the percentage of trials taking place within the window of 60 days is quite small. Meanwhile, if the Durham Police Department routinely reuses these tapes after only 60 days, it seems to me that they are routinely complicit in destroying important evidence. If the Durham Police Department is so impoverished that they can't afford a supply of tapes then, just maybe they should do something to raise money for them. Heck! They could hold a bake sale once a year!
"Heck! They could hold a bake sale once a year!"
They do hold regular police auctions. But almost all of the money raised goes into the hands of a few select individuals (one gets about 50% of the money).
http://www.iape.org/Headlines/Headlines2004_12.html
When a reporter tried to talk with this individual about another case, and left two phone messages for him, he was jailed and charged with "harrassment".
http://www.nabj.org/front/story/856p-1358c.html
Durham operates more like a banana republic than any other place in the USA. . .
Obviously it makes sense to reuse tapes after a reasonable amount of time has passed, EXCEPT when a case goes to trial.
Then the S.O.P. should surely be to preserve those tapes until it is certain they will no longer be needed. They are EVIDENCE, and it is KNOWN that they are evidence.
What does a tape cost, a couple of bucks? I think the department budget could afford it.
You make a really excellent point. I would think you'd keep tapes like that for at least a year.