Body Camera Footage Retention Periods and Storage Practices in U.S. Police Departments
Body camera footage plays a crucial role in enhancing transparency and accountability within law enforcement. However, the retention period and storage practices for this footage can vary significantly depending on the department's policies and budget constraints.
Standard Retention Periods
The initial retention period for body camera footage is 31 days after the recording. After this period, the footage is typically deleted. However, for footage that is relevant to a case, such as arrests or incidents of use of force, it is retained for a longer period.
The standard retention period for such footage is 6 years. This policy is typically applied to cases involving Volume Crime, which includes arrests, incidents of use of force, and other evidential material. For example, if police officers responded to a road traffic collision (RTC) and arrested a male for driving while under the influence, the footage would be categorized as Volume Crime and retained for 6 years.
Variations by Department and State
Not all of the approximately 18,000 police departments in the United States have the same retention policy or data storage practices. The amount of storage space available and the daily input of data from body and squad cameras can vary widely.
Some states have laws specifying a minimum retention period for records, but it is crucial to act quickly if you believe the body or dash cam footage may be relevant to a criminal case. Once the storage capacity is full, the department will start deleting the oldest files to make room for new files.
Cost Considerations and Storage Practices
There is no set standard or law mandating that agencies must keep the footage for a specific period. The decision often hinges on financial considerations, as storing the footage requires significant investment in storage space. Most agencies aim to retain the footage for at least 90 days, which is usually sufficient for any complaints to come in.
After 90 days, agencies typically retain only the footage that is specifically marked as evidence in a crime. They also preserve any footage they believe may be needed for future legal proceedings. The typical time frame for retaining such footage is 3 years, which aligns with the maximum time frame for filing a lawsuit in most areas.
For instance, some agencies aim to keep all the footage for as long as possible, but this often leads to a conflict between the desire to retain footage and the high cost of storage. Most agencies, including the one mentioned in the example, try to balance cost with the need for evidence retention by preserving footage for up to 3 years at a cost that is often unsustainable.
One agency in the area is paying $600,000 annually for cloud storage, which only allows them to keep non-evidentiary footage for about 180 days before it is purged. This highlights the financial constraints that many agencies face when it comes to storing body camera footage.
Conclusion
The retention and storage of body camera footage are complex issues that require a delicate balance between transparency, accountability, and cost control. Departments must weigh the need to maintain a high standard of evidence against the practical limitations imposed by budget constraints. As technology advances and public scrutiny increases, it is crucial that these policies evolve to meet the needs of both law enforcement and the public.