From Hours to Minutes: How AI is Revolutionizing Forensic Video Investigation

“Smile, you’re on camera!” signs hang in store windows. Massive surveillance trailers sprinkle parking lots. Doorbell cameras alert us every time a car drives past our homes. Nearly every adult has a camera (in the form of a cellphone) within arm’s reach all day, every day.

With cameras seemingly everywhere, you’d think we’d catch more problems in real time. But somehow we’re still surrounded by headlines about things going wrong.

For example, in May 2025, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans. They crawled through a hole in their cell wall and walked straight out of the facility. The entire escape was caught on camera, but the inmates weren’t discovered missing until seven hours after they’d disappeared, during a routine headcount.

And in Brooklyn, a man named Arvel Marshall spent 16 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit—until a long-overlooked surveillance video finally surfaced and proved his innocence. The footage had existed all along, but due to technical difficulties, it wasn’t found or properly reviewed until far too late.

If cameras are always rolling, why aren’t we catching problems sooner? In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of rapid video review and how solutions like LVT’s forensic video search are helping teams move from hours of work to answers in minutes.

The Problem with Manual Video Review

The problem isn’t a lack of footage; if you have surveillance cameras, you probably have plenty of footage. The problem is that most people don’t look at that footage until something bad has happened. They’re already in reaction mode and need answers fast, because the faster they can find the video evidence they need, the more likely they are to minimize damage and apprehend guilty parties. In fact, one study found that a 10% increase in response time correlated with a 4.7% decrease in crime-solving rates.

But manual video evidence search takes time. Someone sits at a monitor, scrubbing through footage minute by minute, eyes peeled for one small, specific moment—and they might not even know when, exactly, that moment happened. It’s tedious, repetitive, and inefficient. All that wasted time adds up, giving suspects time to vanish and situations time to escalate.

Benefits of Automated Investigation Search Tools

The good news is that the days of sifting through endless footage are numbered. AI-powered investigation search tools are changing the way security teams and investigators handle video review. These tools result in benefits like:

• Faster response times: When footage is searchable, teams can find what they need in minutes instead of hours or days. Faster access to video can help catch suspects sooner and prevent further damage.
• Less time spent on manual review: Instead of watching footage from start to finish, personnel can jump straight to the clips they care about. That saves hours of repetitive work and frees them up for more important tasks.
• Improved accuracy: Small but crucial details are easy to miss during manual review, especially when relevant footage is spread across multiple cameras or recorded over long periods. AI-powered tools search everything at once and surface all relevant clips.
• Better documentation and reporting: Searchable footage makes it easier to compile accurate timelines, extract key visuals, and generate detailed reports for law enforcement, insurance, or internal reviews.

Manual vs AI-Powered Video Evidence Search

How LVT Enables Rapid Video Review 

LVT’s forensic video search feature uses artificial intelligence to make video footage searchable. Instead of scrubbing through hours of recordings, users type plain-language keywords (like “white car” or “blue shirt”) and the system pulls up relevant alert clips.

It’s a form of natural language video search, built directly into the LVT platform. You don’t need timestamps or advanced filters. You just describe what you’re looking for, and easily find individuals, incidents, or violations captured by your LVT® Unit. As long as the camera saw it, the system can find it.

Speed Up Investigations With LVT’s Forensic Video Search

Video evidence is only useful if you can find it. Traditional review methods take too long and leave room for error. With forensic video search, you can find footage quickly and reliably, every time. Combined with a full suite of AI-powered features, LVT helps security teams like yours move faster, respond smarter, and stay ahead of crime. 

‍Contact our team today and add forensic search to your security toolkit.