Playlist mentioned at end: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCa9LOIFBe2RPUnyKh_nbzXaYaukNIeiW
Bodycam Laws: https://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/body-worn-cameras-interactive-graphic.aspx
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—Gear Recommendations—
Body Cam: https://amzn.to/2W5cEBh
Gimbal: https://amzn.to/2KkCmiM
GoPro: https://amzn.to/2W7UC1b
DashCam (pricey): https://amzn.to/388fDyw
DashCam (mid range): https://amzn.to/3mueNBv
DashCam (cheap): https://amzn.to/37uQkaW
Have you requested the Bodycam Footage.
I am going to show you the 3 most common ways to obtain bodycam footage, and everything else you should be requesting.
each state’s laws are different. Privacy rights, victims rights and many other exemptions may prohibit the release of the records, or may cause them to be heavily censored.
Not all agencies have bodycams or dashcams. So it’s important to request everything. Even if they don’t have it.
Bodycam footage is great, but it doesn’t always tell the entire story.
When making an open records request, or a FOIA request, The following should be included:
All officers’ names and badge numbers that were involved in the incident.
All bodycam footage from every officer involved.
All dashcam footage from each vehicle on scene.
Any 911 or non-emergency call recordings related to the incident.
Recorded dispatch and radio traffic. Be sure to request 3-5 minutes of record before and after the incident.
All written reports from every officer that was present. Be sure to request copies of the officer’s Field Interview Notebooks as well.
Finally, any video, audio, picture or notes taken on an officer’s personal device during the incident.
First is the most common. An open records or FOIA request can be submitted by anyone, to any government agency.
Most police departments or municipalities have a website that allows us to file an electronic request, and should have a link to their fee schedule as well. If not, requests can be made in person or by fax or mail.
The forms, whether electronic or paper are pretty straight forward. When filling them out, be as specific as possible. It is common for records rooms to omit anything they can, but they will rarely hand over something you don’t request. DUH.
Make sure you also specify in what form you want your records, and how they’re to be delivered.
Fill out the necessary parts, click send, hand deliver it or lick a stamp.
Again, the laws are different in each state, so response time requirements may vary.
The next two methods only apply if you’re involved in an active court case. If you’ve hired a lawyer, they should be charging you tons of money to do this, but if you haven’t, or you want to make their job easy and ensure they’re being proficient, here’s method #2- Discovery.
Discovery is a pre-trial procedure where you can obtain evidence from the other parties.
There are many ways discovery can occur, but the most common way I’ve personally used, is by going to the courthouse and finding the prosecutor’s office. Some court houses even have a discovery office that focuses on disseminating evidence to each party.
Write up your request, including everything we discussed in part 1, and turn it in to the prosecutor or discovery office.
It’s important to note that they may not have entered everything you’re requesting into evidence. Even if the records exist.
For example, on a recent speeding ticket I beat, The prosecutors office didn’t have the dispatch recording or certificates of service for the radar gun, because they knew that those 2 pieces of evidence could (and did) work against their case. Click this link to see how I beat the case.
So what do we do now if The police department won’t release the bodycam footage because it’s involved in an ongoing investigation, and the footage can’t be obtained through discovery because it hasn’t been submitted as evidence?
Don’t worry, You still have one more step.
A subpoena duces tecum, or subpoena for production of evidence, is a court summons ordering the recipient to appear before the court and produce for use at a hearing or trial. The summons is known by various names in different jurisdictions.
I went to the clerks desk at the municipal courthouse where my case was being tried, and requested a form to submit a subpoena duces tecum.
after filling it out, a court date was made for the following week and I appeared before the judge with the prosecutor to review the request.
If approved, they will order the production of whatever records you’ve requested, and a deadline for when they shall be delivered to you.
#BodyCam #OpenRecords #FOIA
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Great video!
Thought I'd share my (first time) experience with trying to get body cam and dash cam footage of a traffic stop I was involved in, in PA. While I didnt do it the correct way at first it was a learning experience.
I first tried going into the PD that initiated the traffic stop and asking for the dash cam footage. The receptionist was polite and gave me phone number of the department captain and suggest I contact him. I did and he informed me it was against policy to release dash cam footage but would be happy to show it at my trial if I went to traffic court.
I then submitted a Right-to-know request (PA FOIA request basically) for all dash cam footage, body cam footage and audio of the traffic stop. I was then given the runaround and waited a total of 35 days to receive a poorly formatted dvd with no audio of the traffic stop with only dash cam footage. After contacting the police captain he cited faulty audio equipment or user error for the lack of audio. I did not receive body cam footage because the department did not use body cameras.
Moral of the story is my vehicle now has forward and rearward facing dash cams with GPS speed verification. Saving the hassle next time is worth the cost.
Can you still help me out in getting an arrest video document
Stop hurting p😂😂😢😢😢😢😢😊
Thank you so much!
What about disciplinary records of each officer? Grievance, complaint, internal affairs investigations….? Are they obtainable?
I really like the comment "what good are police body cameras if they don't create police accountability". I can easily imagine a world where the footage can only be realistically used in support of the police, and is just too hard to obtain or other issues for regular citizens. It's not just about accountability too, it's also providing many people the ability to better understand what is actually happening in society on many levels. I imagine there is so much footage created from police body cams now that many crazy things just don't get seen because no one knew or put the effort/expense in to request it. I hope I can get the hang of making requests, I just made a couple to different depts, so will see how it goes. I think the hardest part so far is knowing and communicating that specific records exist, without being super vague and just asking for all the video from some thing I read about…
Thank you. Going to try it soon. Maybe send you footage
Hey buddy whats your email im trying to get a dash cam video. Can you help?
I heard a term i hadn't heard or was aware of. The conversation was about getting discovery in an ongoing case. He had requested all discovery from the procecutors but also requested the "particulars list". I would like to hear more about this and about what things would, could or should be on such a list? See Let's Exchange ID's latest recount of his latest hearing.
Thank You!❤
1:50 The List!
Hey I emailed you this morning please please help me
I'm interested in reaching out and sharing my story.
7:30 it seems like the public servant said the citizen in question is “evil”, but that can’t be right can it?
I’m going directly to the State AG for discovery… Disability Discrimination at a Public Facility (DMV).
Radford city pd virginia erases their body cam after 30 days 🤔
What if you don't know the officers names or badge numbers? I need to get police reports/bodycam videos for a small claims case.
can a person from outside US request it?
@lackluster I do not see your email to be able to contact you
I requested body cam footage in the incident i recorded at the SSA. Except for 9 miutes that was omitted, (but captured on dashcam) I had no problems obtaining the footage. Fastforward to moving to North Carolina, and I have found that bodycam footage is not even considered Public Records. I'm looking into it now.
Have you dealt with obtaining Body Cam Footage in NC? What is the worst state to try and get footage?
Loved the info!
You are the man
Perfection. My apartment was wrong raided. Flash grenade n 12+ men. Gun pointed at me. Set the carper on fire with the flash. Shit show. Single female living alone now living under that correct apartment that has all these guns. All im left with is a hole in my door the size of a Celeste brande pizza that i cant close for my safety
Ensuring transparency and justice: 👥 Witness Statements, 🔬 Forensic Evidence, 💉 Medical Records, 📹 Surveillance Footage. #JusticeForAll #TransparencyMatters ✊
Where did you link the speeding ticket you beat?
Can you help me get body cam in nyc about my case about an ahole cop who gave me multiple tickets including unregistered vehicle while it was actually registered and I provided him all the paper work.
So I made a request for body camera footage and the office denied me saying I need to leave that I want it on the complaint form