Funds available for video equipment to record criminal interrogations

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Local law enforcement agencies can apply for a share of $500,000 in funding to expand their ability to video record criminal interrogations.

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. announced the funding for district attorneys’ offices, police departments and sheriffs’ offices outside of New York City.

“This footage can be critical in preventing a wrongful conviction or protecting investigators from false accusations,” Cuomo said in a news release.

The Manhattan DA’s Office will provide half of the funding, using criminal asset forfeiture funds received from settlements with international banks for violating U.S. sanctions.

The rest of the funding will come from other federal money administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, which will review proposals and distribute the grants.

The New York State Municipal Police Training Council — an eight-member board of law enforcement officers appointed by the Governor and staffed by DCJS — in 2013 issued a model policy on the practice of video recording criminal interrogations.

The policy provides best practices and establishes guidelines for capturing a suspect’s statements on video. DCJS also offers online training for investigators on the skills and strategies that are useful in recording interviews.

Already, the state has provided more than $3 million to law enforcement offices across the state to support video recording.

Police departments and sheriffs’ offices must collaborate with their district attorney’s office to apply for the funding. The grants can be used to purchase or install video recording equipment in police departments and sheriffs’ offices or to upgrade existing equipment.

The deadline for applying for the funding is Aug. 5.