Research Report: “Beyond the Lens: Mapping the Role of Video Evidence in Colorado Courts”
Supported by a 2025 ACLS Sustaining Community Connections grant, the Visual Evidence Lab partnered with SCALES OKN toexamine the role of video evidence inColorado courts. The joint study analyzes a decade of criminal and civil cases (2013-2023) across Denver County Court, Denver District Court, theColorado Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The findings show:
Video is increasingly common evidence, but its legal significance is inconsistently articulated.
Cell phone video raises constitutional and accountability issuesin appellate courts.
Security and surveillance footage dominates civil litigation in lower courts.
As video continues to be part of the U.S. legal system, understanding its role is essential for ensuring consistency, equality, and fairness for all who seek justice.