Office Issues Body-Worn Camera Policy That Brings Certainty to Public Release of Footage

With the widespread implementation of body-worn cameras for law enforcement and community calls for greater transparency, State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces the office’s Body-Worn Camera policy for future officer-involved critical incidents.

This follows a commitment made to the public in June 2020 to review current practices and create a policy that informs the public disclosure of body-worn camera footage in officer-involved critical incidents.

The policy presumes the public’s expectation of transparency and, specifically, the State Attorney’s Office agrees to inform a law enforcement agency no later than 30 days of an officer-involved critical incident whether it objects to the public release of body-worn camera footage.

This 30-day period provides the State Attorney’s Office the necessary time to ensure the integrity of the criminal investigation, to notify and consult with those depicted in the footage or their families, and to confirm accurate and complete information will be released.

“We listened and we acted,” said Nelson. “This policy assures accountability and provides the public a time frame they can count on.”

The full body-worn camera footage memo is available to download below and is effective as of Sept. 1, 2020, for all future officer-involved critical incidents.