Fort Wayne Police already do this, and what's not to like about having it as a requirement for all other police departments in the state?
Police investigators would be required to record questioning of criminal suspects who were in custody under a proposed rule being considered by the Indiana Supreme Court.
The rule would apply to "custodial interrogations" that took place after a person had been detained. Recordings could be audio, video or digitaL.
We're so used to seeing taped interviews on TV cop and reality shows that many people will be surprised to learn it already isn't standard practive. Such recordings can protect suspects' rights but also prevent police from being falsely accused of brutality and keep suspects from changing their stories, and they can help juries better understand testimony. It's hard to see a down side.
One argument is offered by the Floyd County prosecutor, who says the recordings could impede justice by excluding statements that weren't taped, and that the policy "betrays a reliance on technology instead of jurors' ability to determine the truth." But if the recordings are required, there shouldn't be any statements that aren't taped. And "technology" or "jurors' ability" is a false dilemma. If technology can actually help jurors arrive at the truth, it's dumb to not use it.
