Key Point. Video recordings made by church surveillance cameras may not be admissible as evidence in criminal prosecutions unless they comply with the conditions specified by state law.
A Georgia court ruled that a video recording of a burglary on church premises was admissible as evidence in the perpetrator's burglary trial. Many churches have installed video cameras as both a deterrent to crime and a means of identifying persons who engage in criminal behavior. Video recordings may be admissible as evidence in criminal prosecutions, but there are conditions that may apply. A recent case illustrates this important point. A church custodian arrived at work to discover that the front door was damaged and a side window was broken. He immediately called the police. After the investigating officer arrived, she determined that someone had "busted in" the front door with a sharp object in order ...
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