"The course provided valuable information on a 'level' that allowed me to grasp the concepts being taught. As an instructor for multiple agencies within the area, I was impressed with the organization and teaching techniques of both instructors. I fully understand that the work required for the development of this course required many hours of discussion and consideration to provide information to a wide spectrum of knowledge and experience in terms of law enforcement professionals."

- Jim Young, Detective, Cary Police Department

View the PDF flyer for the training class:

Training flyer

Class overview

Our world is relentlessly being recorded. So it’s no surprise that video evidence of crime and criminals abounds. The challenge today is turning that pile of videotapes and CDs on your desk into actual, usable evidence. For that, you need to know how to properly retrieve, process and analyze this critical video data. Which means you need an understanding of video technology and the best practices for cutting-edge forensic video analysis, including proper evidence handling.

The Recovery and Analysis of Video Evidence course will help you do all this. Through interactive training and hands-on exercises you will learn proper evidence handling procedures, the ins and outs of video technology and the tools available for video analysis. Whether it's analog or digital, you'll be ready to deal with it: in-car, personal video recorders, VHS CCTV, DVRs, DCCTV. You will return to your agency empowered with the best practices for collecting and analyzing video evidence, as well as implementing standard operating procedures.

Instructors

Dorothy Stout

Owner, Resolution Video, Inc.

Dorothy Stout’s company, Resolution Video, is an industry leader in forensic video analysis training and services for the examination and analysis of video evidence. Since 1998, she has playing a critical role in helping federal entities with forensic video analysis. She has worked with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and performed as a forensic video analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense Computer Forensic Laboratory (DCFL). She has also worked with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Security Industry Association (SIA) as a forensic video/digital video technical consultant. Ms. Stout has been qualified as an expert and testified at all levels of the United States Courts and continues to offer expert testimony in civil and criminal cases involving video evidence. She teaches at the George Washington University, in Washington, DC and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, in Vancouver, Canada. She is also an Adjunct Professor with the University of Indianapolis and an instructor for the Law Enforcement Emergency Services Video Association (LEVA) forensic video analysis and the law classes. Ms. Stout holds a Masters Degree in Forensic Science and a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.

Sam Burgiss

Director of Products, Signalscape, Inc.

Upon joining Signalscape in 2000, Sam Burgiss began collaborating with federal agencies to develop forensic video applications. He has since consulted with numerous law enforcement agencies on cases involving video evidence. Mr. Burgiss' background is in Electrical Engineering, with a specialization in Computer Vision and Video Processing. He holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a BS in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Class agenda

This one week training course will be held each February in Phoenix, Arizona and each September in Cary, North Carolina.

Monday (9:00AM to 5:00PM)

• Intro to the field of Forensic Video Analysis
• Background on analog and digital video
• In depth background on analog CCTV including multiplexing, time lapse...
• In depth background on digital CCTV
• Networking session

Tuesday (9:00AM to 5:00PM)

• Retrieval of analog video
• Retrieval of digital video including downloading, hookups, analog outputs...
• Video evidence handling concepts including chain of custody, no harm, evidence archival...
• Writing video evidence SOP's etc.

Wednesday (9:00AM to 5:00PM)

• Analog video capture
• Analog video assessment
• Analog video processing techniques: deinterlacing, demultiplexing, zoom, brightness, contrast...
• Putting it all together: working real cases
• Evening networking event

Thursday (9:00AM to 5:00PM)

• Digital video assessment
• Digital video capture
• Digital video processing techniques: deinterlacing, resize, contrast, brightness...
• Putting it all together
• Review for test

Friday (9:00AM to 2:00PM)

• Test
• Open feedback session -- We want your feedback.
• Graduation
• Discussion and introduction to Video Analyst Training course (optional)

Class price

$954

Training location

AZ Dept. of Public Safety

16212 N 28th Ave.

Phoenix, AZ 85053

Directions from Sky Harbor Int’l Airport:

Drive I-10 West. Take the I-17 North. Take the Greenway Rd. Exit, and begin to travel Westbound. The first intersection you come (with a stop light) is 29th Ave. Take a right onto 29th Ave. and begin to travel Northbound. The very first intersection (no stop light) is 28th Ave. Take a right onto 28th Ave. and begin to travel Eastbound. 28th Ave. will curve to your left taking you in a northbound direction. Continue on 28th Ave until you cross the bridge (no water flowing). The ACTIC is the first building pass the bridge on the west side of the street. The address is 16212 N. 28thAve. The only marking on the building is the address. Feel free to park in the front lot. The entrance to the AC TIC is the furthest entrance to the Southeast side of the building (still facing 28th Ave.).There is an open parking lot across the street from the ACTIC that can be used for overflow parking.

Please be prepared to show Photo ID to the On-Site Security Officer, and have the name of your ACTIC point of contact (Patrick Smith), so Security can call them to the front to welcome and escort you.

Hotels close to the AZ Dept. of Public Safety

Embassy Suites Hotel Phoenix-North

2577 W Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023

La Quinta Inn Phoenix North

2510 West Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023

Fairfield Inn Phoenix North

17017 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85023

Best Western Bell Hotel

17211 North Black Canyon Hwy, Phoenix, AZ 85023

Red Roof Inn Phoenix North

17222 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85053

Future class dates

September 14th to 18th, 2009 - Cary, NC

February 8th to 12th, 2010 - Phoenix, AZ

September 13th to 17th, 2010 - Cary, NC