BUS VIDEO RECORDINGS COLLECTION – PROCESSING - REDACTION - SHARING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR DISTRICT?

COLLECTION – PROCESSING - REDACTION - SHARING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR DISTRICT?

BUS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ENHANCES THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF STUDENTS AND BUS OPERATORS Removes all doubts about student’s behavior on the bus and helps ensure bus operators are consistent in their professional driving and behavioral management skills Captures everyday events and activities surrounding the operational environment of the bus that may contribute to enhanced safety procedures Drivers feel supported when testifying and legal advisors are more comfortable with proper credible video evidence

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BUS VIDEO IS DIRECTLY DETERMINED BY THE LEVEL OF DISTRICT SUPPORT The use of video surveillance must be known to parents, the community and district staff Student handbooks, district websites and operational guides should include information advising that video recordings can be expected to be in use on your school buses The interior of buses should clearly be posted with video recording notices to students

VIDEO RECORDINGS REMAIN ANONYMOUS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE USED AS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) considers school bus security video a confidential record In its original form school bus security video is currently exempt from Florida's Public Records Law (Chapter119 F.S.) To comply with Chapter 119 student images must be redacted prior to public release or dissemination

UN-REDACTED VIDEO IS ONLY RELEASABLE UNDER THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES: To comply with a court order or lawfully issued subpoena To appropriate governmental agencies in cases of health and/or safety emergencies To law enforcement authorities as a part of a criminal investigation To the Office of the State Attorney or Juvenile Justice as part of an investigation To the Department of Children and Families as part of an investigation Any other authorized purpose as approved by the Superintendent

BREVARD GENERAL RULE: PARENTS DO NOT ROUTINELY VIEW VIDEO FOOTAGE With the exception of a court order, any video footage viewed by parents will be redacted at the expense of the parent(s)/legal guardian Video will only be viewed at schools or in the Safety/Security office Video is never viewed at a Transportation administrative location or on a bus Work with H.R., Legal, Communications and Safety/Security departments to determine a best practice for your district.

VIDEO CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES The credibility of bus video footage as supporting evidence depends on proper chain of custody and security procedures Must protect all potential evidence: student misbehavior, fights, bullying, inappropriate driver behavior or other actions, stop-arm violations, accidents etc. External requests for video clips should be made to district security, risk management or the community relations departments. Video will not be release unless specifically authorized by the Superintendent Only properly trained, authorized personnel should retrieve, monitor and/or process bus video clips An approximate 10 minute clip which starts 5 minutes prior to the incident of interest and ends 5 minutes after the incident is recommended Total length of video clips will vary depending on exact circumstances

VIDEO CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES Develop specific procedures with IT to determine who is trained to download and archive the video on digital information systems Bus video cameras need to tamper and vandal resistant DVR hard drives must be locked and secured at all times Do not give bus operators the keys to the DVR Password protect all processed video files when placed in storage Store files in the original encrypted proprietary file formats When possible use only electronic means to send video files. Stay away from hard media like CD’s, DVD’s, thumb drives and portable USB hard drives

VIDEO CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES Document or log the name of the individual processing/reviewing the video and include the bus number, route number, driver, school and time/date To be credible evidence only the original encrypted video should be released to law enforcement. Conversion to a more common file format for viewing will occur by request from law enforcement at a later time Use only proprietary encrypted digital recording equipment. Do not use DVRs that record in the most common file formats that are easily editable by anyone on a smart phone, home or office computer (.avi,.wmv,.mpeg,.flv,.mkv etc.)

SCHOOL BUS VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS ARE ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE INVESTMENT TO PROTECT STUDENTS, PARENTS, BUS DRIVERS, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THEY MUST HOWEVER, BE SUPPORTED BY PROPER POLICIES AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY/SECURITY PROCEDURES

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS TO SHARE?

ARBY CREACH DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES BREVARD DISTRICT SCHOOLS 2091 WEST KING STREET COCOA, FLORIDA PHONE EXT