NICE - FAQs
Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) Discovery Uploads
What discovery should be sent through NICE Justice?
All digital discovery, including audio, video, 911 calls, CAD logs, photos/images. Agencies may elect to send all paper discovery through the portal as well. Pursuant to Criminal Rule 16(a), discovery prior to trial should be as full and free as possible consistent with the protection of persons, effective law enforcement, and the adversary system.
Can an LEA track outstanding discovery requests?
Yes. If an LEA registers for the portal, the LEA will have access to view all outstanding and fulfilled discovery requests. The LEA can also track which user fulfilled the request.
What if an LEA is not registered with NICE?
If an LEA does not register with NICE, the LEA will only be able to view a single request sent via email. The LEA will not have access to the portal that allows it to track outstanding and completed discovery requests.
How does an LEA register for NICE?
Follow the instructions set out in the NICE Justice LEA Upload Instructions document.
Is there a cost for an LEA to use the NICE portal?
No. The external portal is free to our law enforcement partners.
What if the email used to register with NICE is for an employee who has left the LEA?
Contact the local DAO. LEAs may select which users serve as administrators within the NICE external platform. The administrator can revoke a user’s access.
If an LEA responds to a discovery request, does the link for that request remain open?
No. Once the LEA responds to the request, the link will close, and a new link will need to be created by the local DAO for additional discovery. Note: This restriction will change following an update to the system scheduled for early 2025.
What if there is additional discovery that needs to be sent in the case?
Contact the local DAO. The local DAO will send a new evidence request through NICE. This can be done via the messaging feature available through NICE.
How long does the LEA have to respond to the request?
30 days is what is set as default. However, the timeline is adjustable.
What if we encounter an error when we are uploading discovery?
Contact the local DAO for assistance.
Is there a file size limit for uploads?
Yes. The system is set to limit the file size to 100gb. However, due to Alaska’s bandwidth limitations, the transferability of some evidence items depends on the item’s size. If there is an item that exceeds the limit or is not transferring timely, contact your local DAO.
Can zip files be uploaded to the system?
Yes. You can upload zipped files. Cell phone extractions and crime scene scans that include large amounts of data should be uploaded as zipped files ONLY.
Can a file with multiple evidence items be uploaded?
Yes. However, the file paths will not be preserved on the recipient’s end. For instance, if your agency saves a file for an individual officer and all the photographs that officer took, the file structure will not transfer with that evidence.
Do players for video need to be sent with video files?
Yes. Although NICE can transcode most video files, there are some files that cannot be transcoded. For example, video systems that have proprietary software limits.
Is there a preferred naming convention that should be used?
Yes. To properly identify who is the original author of the evidence, LEAs are encouraged to organize evidence in the following format: officer name, type of evidence, brief description, and date of capture. For example, "Officer Smith BWC – Interview with Victim 1 (11.22.23)" or "Officer Smith – Images - Search Warrant of House (11.22.23)." Naming evidence in this way helps to ensure a clear record of what is sent and establish the foundation for the piece of evidence at trial.
What if evidence is mistakenly added to the wrong NICE case?
What happens if discovery is not provided timely in connection with a charged case?
It is critical to provide discovery contemporaneous to when the case is charged. Defendants have important due process rights, including the right to prepare their defense. An essential part of preparing their case for trial is the ability to access the evidence available to the prosecution team. LEAs are an extension of the prosecution team, and information possessed by the investigating LEA is imputed to the prosecution. The failure to provide discovery can result in the suppression of evidence or dismissal of the criminal case.