How To Get Body Cam Footage From Police

In the past, New Jersey police have been accused of using excessive force. Police officials have spoken publicly about their desire to improve the department’s public image, they want the public to feel that they can trust them and body cameras are expected to encourage that.

The body camera is a small device that clips onto the officer’s shirt and records his or her interactions while on patrol. Different police departments have different policies, but for the most part, the body cameras aren’t recording for the officer’s entire shift. Some police record when they think there will be an arrest, while other officers do it anytime they interact with a civilian. This saves the camera’s battery life and prevents the servers from being filled with mundane footage, such as officers eating lunch. 

Many of the cameras film constantly, but records the footage in “buffer mode”. This means it’s just video, no audio, that is deleted after 30 seconds. The police officer would double-click the camera to start recording both video and audio. The clip includes the preceding 30 seconds of buffer video footage which is meant to protect the privacy of the police officers going about their business, while also allowing them to catch footage of a crime that occurs seconds before they hit the record button.

The cameras may prove particularly helpful for criminal defendants who find themselves in a “their word against mine” situation. It is likely that your interaction with your arresting officer was recorded. If the officer failed to Mirandize you, or you believe you were in some way mistreated, your experienced criminal defense lawyer can obtain the footage and build your defense around the evidence.

Talk To An Experienced Attorney

John W. Tumelty is an experienced criminal defense attorney who will help determine what happened in your case. He will craft a defense strategy to help you avoid the most serious penalties. Mr. Tumelty is available 24/7 for an in-person consultation.  

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The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship.