Police agencies across the state must record suspects arrested for serious crimes. It's a new law that goes into effect with the new year. State Representative Mark Gundrum said district attorneys will demand recordings, to avoid losing points with juries. Failure to do so, said Gundrum, “could be hamstringing the case,” since judges will instruct juries on the new policy to record suspects.
Still, Gundrum doesn't see much chance of such vital evidence being excluded; “the law enforcement agencies have gotten the equipment, they are doing electronic recording regularly now.” The state Office of Justice Assistance provided about $650,000 to help law enforcement agencies around the state obtain recording equipment. Gundrum says “very, very few” departments had been recording suspects previously.