Digital imaging and the credibility of photographic evidence: A descriptive study of the perceptions of Missouri prosecuting attorneys and district public defenders

Digital imaging technology has made a tremendous impact on our society. More people are using this technology than ever before. It has multiple uses in fields such as medicine, journalism, science, art, and advertising. The nature of the technology is such that the manipulation of images cannot be detected. This capability makes digital imaging a potential threat to the credibility of photographic evidence.;The results of the study indicated that the subjects had an extremely low awareness level of digital imaging technology. However, they reported perceiving digital imaging as a potential threat to the credibility of photographic evidence. In addition, they felt that more safeguards must be implemented to protect against the perceived digital threat.;Two self-developed survey instruments were used to elicit information from Missouri Prosecuting Attorneys and District Public Defenders. The instruments each consisted of 27 questions which were designed to assess three specific factors: awareness levels of digital imaging, perception of threat, and necessity of safeguards.