Digital photographic evidence and the adjudication of domestic violence cases

This study reported the impact of digital photographic evidence on domestic violence case outcomes in two Indiana counties. It analyzed whether outcomes differed between cases with digital photographic evidence (treatment group) and cases with no photographic evidence (comparison group). Examined impacts included guilty pleas, convictions, and sentence severity. Data included in the analysis came from case files and police and prosecutor interviews. Findings suggest that digital photographic evidence can be a useful prosecutorial tool – treatment group members were more likely to plead guilty, be convicted, and receive more severe sentences.