90% of crimes now involve some form of digital evidence.
And, of course, the more evidence you have and the clearer you can examine a case, the better the results will be.
It's why police tech like body-worn cameras, dash cams, citizen uploads, CCTV footage are now everywhere.
However, if your department is still juggling evidence across multiple disconnected systems, you're not just wasting time; you're putting cases at risk. All the evidence in different places, organized in various ways, and not working together.
It's how problems start.
The solution is to invest in a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS), but how do you pick one that actually works for your department? Not just the fancy demo—something that'll still be serving you well in five years.
Here's what you need to know.
Think of it as your digital evidence command center.
A proper DEMS is a centralized platform for ingesting, storing, organizing, and sharing digital evidence from body-worn cameras, dashcams, CCTV systems, forensic images, citizen uploads, and 911 call recordings.
The goal?
Secure, searchable, and court-ready evidence workflows that don't give you nightmares.
The FBI's CJIS Security Policy establishes minimum security requirements for all entities handling Criminal Justice Information, with 13 specific areas that must be evaluated.
Look for end-to-end AES-256 encryption, comprehensive audit logs, and secure access controls. Every vendor processing CJI must sign the CJIS Security Addendum.
Scalable Storage that grows with you. The global BWC and DEMS market reached $1.85 billion in 2023, and departments are generating more footage than ever.
Whether you go cloud, hybrid, or on-premises, make sure your system can scale without breaking your budget or requiring a complete overhaul.
Your patrol officers shouldn't see sensitive assault case files, but your detectives need full access.
Personnel should be granted or denied access to specific case types based on their role—patrol officers may have general access while being excluded from sensitive investigations.
If your officers can't find footage from "that incident last Tuesday near the school," your system has failed. Look for metadata tagging, GPS integration, time stamps, case number linking, and keyword search that actually returns useful results.
Every system must maintain immutable logs of who accessed or modified what and when, with tamper detection technology alerting agencies to any unauthorized changes.
One broken link, and your case falls apart.
Set custom rules for different types of evidence based on your jurisdiction's requirements. Complex retention policies are implemented to manage evidence efficiently, reduce costs, and improve control.
Secure links, prosecutor portals, and cloud-based case collaboration tools that maintain strict access controls while enabling multi-agency cooperation.
Your DEMS shouldn't be an island.
A flexible DEMS should be device agnostic, meaning you're not required to use specific hardware, avoiding system silos or redundant solutions.
Can it talk to your RMS? Your CAD system? Your court's case management platform?
Look for compatibility with any BWC, dash cam, or mobile evidence source.
Open APIs and export/import tools aren't just nice to have—they're insurance against vendor lock-in and future-proof your infrastructure.
And here's something crucial: BWC systems are NOT evidence management systems. As police departments adopt BWCs, it's becoming increasingly important for BWC and DEMS solutions to work together through integration that allows investigators to bring together all digital evidence associated with a case.
User experience matters more than features.
The fanciest system in the world is worthless if your officers won't use it. How intuitive is the interface for both officers and admin staff? Can someone upload evidence from the field without a PhD in computer science?
Look for systems that offer comprehensive training—both in-person and online options. Does it support mobile access for in-field uploads?
Can you customize naming conventions and workflows to match how your department actually operates?
The digital evidence management market reached $8.0 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $18.1 billion by 2033. High implementation costs can be a barrier for many organizations, particularly smaller law enforcement agencies.
Watch out for the pricing models: upfront licensing versus subscription costs.
Hidden expenses include user licenses that multiply faster than you expect, storage overages when your footage volume spikes, and "premium features" like redaction or evidence sharing that should be standard.
Storage capacity significantly influences DEMS pricing models, while caseload directly impacts the cost of DEMS systems.
Don't forget grant opportunities—many state and federal programs specifically fund evidence management improvements. Calculate your total cost of ownership over 3-5 years, not just the first-year expense.
Walk away if you see any of these warning signs:
Here's where things get interesting. CLIPr integrates seamlessly with any DEMS to streamline report generation using BWC audio to auto-generate draft incident reports, saving time and reducing errors for your officers.
The key point: CLIPr doesn't replace your DEMS—it enhances it by closing the loop between video capture and documentation. It works regardless of your camera vendor or DEMS provider, fitting into your existing workflow without disruption.
With 90% of crimes now involving some form of digital evidence, managing vast amounts of evidence from emails, photos, and videos to social media posts, documents, and GPS records has become a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies.
The right DEMS doesn't just store your evidence—it transforms how your department operates. Look for a system that improves efficiency, protects evidence integrity, and makes your officers' jobs easier.
Don't just watch the vendor demo. Get them to show you how their system handles YOUR specific workflows.
Ask for references from departments similar to yours. And remember—you're not just buying software; you're investing in the foundation of your evidence management for years to come.
Want to learn how CLIPr complements your DEMS and reduces paperwork fatigue for officers? Drop me a line if you'd like to chat about evidence management workflows that actually work for real departments.
