| Security cameras have played a significant role in | | | | which law enforcement officials are operating or |
| preventing crime and catching criminals. Before | | | | implementing CCTV video surveillance as a way to |
| security cameras, police had to rely on witness's | | | | prevent crime and promote public safety. In some |
| description of the perpetrator where a crime had been | | | | cities, the videos are passively recorded and played |
| committed. Eye witness accounts can vary greatly | | | | back at certain intervals, while other cities actively |
| among several people who were present at the same | | | | monitor the surveillance images. In some states school |
| event. Eye witness testimonies must be accompanied | | | | districts are experimenting with CCTV video |
| by other substantial or objective evidence to hold up in | | | | surveillance as a principal security measure to reduce |
| court. Since the development of closed circuit television | | | | campus violence and prevent crimes such as theft |
| (CCTV) in 1942 many advances in technology have | | | | and graffiti. |
| made CCTV invaluable in the fight against crime. Mini | | | | According to a 1996 survey of secondary school |
| security cameras are difficult to spot and catch | | | | administrators conducted by the American Society for |
| criminals when they aren't aware they are being | | | | Industrial Security, schools which use either passive or |
| watched. Recent studies show that video surveillance | | | | active CCTV surveillance systems, contend that the |
| is the number one deterrent for criminals. | | | | systems have contributed to reduced property crimes |
| CCTV is the use of video security cameras to relay a | | | | such as break-ins, theft, and vandalism. The popularity |
| signal to a specific or limited set of monitors. The first | | | | of CCTV video surveillance as a crime prevention tool |
| CCTV system was designed and installed by German | | | | is an important component of the re-emergence of |
| scientist Walter Bruch in 1942. His system was used to | | | | downtown entertainment and commercial business |
| record and observe the launch of V-2 rockets. Closed | | | | districts. Business partnerships composed of retailers |
| circuit television is very useful at launch sites because | | | | and various agencies of local governments have been |
| the cameras are able to be in closer proximity to the | | | | created in cities such as Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and |
| rockets than a human while providing a recording of | | | | Memphis to provide the funding capital for CCTV |
| the event that can be reviewed as often as needed. | | | | video surveillance crime prevention projects. |
| Now the use of CCTV can be found almost | | | | Community-oriented policing programs help monitor the |
| anywhere. It is inexpensive enough to be used in home | | | | surveillance systems and respond to criminal activity. |
| security systems. There are at least 13 U.S. cities in | | | | |