Body Camera Data

Police-Worn Body Camera Data

Classification and Retention

• Body cam data are generally private/nonpublic, except when the data are active criminal investigative data. (§ 13.825, subd. 2(a)(3))
• Active criminal investigative body cam data are confidential/protected nonpublic. (§ 13.825, subd. 2(a)(3); § 13.82, subd. 7)
• Body cam data that are not active or inactive criminal investigative data must be retained for at least 90 days. (§ 13.825, subd. 3)
• After an investigation is complete, body cam data are public if they document an incident where an officer discharges a weapon in the course of duty (not including training or killing an animal) and the data must be retained for at least one year. (§ 13.825, subd. 2, 3)
• After an investigation is complete, body cam data are public if the recording documents the use of force by a peace officer that results in substantial bodily harm and the data must be retained for at least one year. (§ 13.825, subd. 2, 3)
• Body cam data that are public personnel data under § 13.43, subd. 2 remain public. (§ 13.825, subd. 2(a)(4))
• Whether law enforcement used a body cam (or any portable recording system) is public in the context of arrest data (§ 13.82, subd. 2) and response or incident data. (§ 13.82, subd. 6)
• Law enforcement agencies may release any not public body cam data to the public to aid law enforcement, promote public safety, or dispel rumor or unrest. (§ 13.82, subd. 15)

Body Cam Data Subjects

• Subjects of the data (i.e. the person(s) recorded in the footage), including peace officers, have access to private/nonpublic data and may request to have the data made public. (§ 13.825, subd. 2(a)(2))
• When a data subject requests that private data be made public, law enforcement must redact identities of non-consenting data subjects and undercover officers. (§ 13.825, subd. 2(a)(2); subd. 4)

Data Sharing

Section 13.825 limits the sharing of not public body cam data between law enforcement agencies (§ 13.825, subd. 8) and requires agencies that use body cams to arrange for an independent, biennial audit to ensure compliance (§ 13.825, subd. 9).

Public Comment

Section 626.8473 requires a law enforcement agency to allow for public comment and to create written policies and procedures before it purchases body cams or implements a body cam program. Such policies and procedures must be in place by January 15, 2017.

Audits

Law enforcement agencies that use body-worn cameras are required to conduct biennial independent audits of the data to determine whether data are appropriately classified according to this section, how the data are used, and whether the data are destroyed as required under this section, and to verify compliance with the law. Law enforcement must forward a report summarizing the results of the audit to the governing body within the jurisdiction and to the Legislative Commission on Data Practices and Personal Data Privacy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

No. the new body cam data law applies only to data recorded by a “portable recording system,” defined as: “a device worn by a peace officer that is capable of both video and audio recording of the officer's activities and interactions with others or collecting digital multimedia evidence as part of an investigation.” 

Generally, a new law will not have a retroactive effect unless the legislature specifically requires it in the session law. There is not a retroactive effect for the public comment provisions, so the public comment language will apply only to agencies that have yet to purchase body cameras or implement a program.
However, because the language reads “…purchases or implements…” if an agency decides to purchase all new body cameras from a completely new vendor (as opposed to just renewing a contract), it appears that the public comment language would apply. New purchases of this size also likely require governing body approval and discussion at an open meeting. A body could include the public comment period at the same open meeting.

No. The law specifically states that undercover officers must be redacted in any body cam videos provided to a data subject or the public.

It depends. A provision requiring law enforcement agencies to allow officers to view video prior to writing a report did not make it into the final version of the law. Because the law neither requires nor prohibits it, agencies can individually decide whether to allow this review. Additionally, agencies might consider including this decision in their written policy.

It depends. The law does not require consent prior to recording in a private home. However, the law enforcement agency’s required written policy must include circumstances when a data subject must be given notice of a recording. The policy must also include circumstances when recording is mandatory, prohibited, or at the discretion of the officer and circumstances when a recording may be ended while an investigation, response, or incident is ongoing.

Yes.  When an investigation is inactive, an individual whose image or voice appears in a body cam video (a data subject) can view the unredacted video, including access to other individuals and peace officers who appear in the video.

Data subjects can also request a copy of a body cam video in which they appear, or request that the video be made accessible to the public, as long as other data subjects (not including on-duty peace officers engaged in an investigation or response) give consent or are redacted from the video.

A law enforcement agency must always redact undercover officers.

The new law sets out a process in section 13.825, subd. 2(d) that allows any person to challenge a determination about body cam data access. The court may order that all or part of the data be released to the public or to the person bringing an action. 
A requester can always also contact our office for any data request assistance.