Law-enforcement agencies, local; body-worn cameras. (HB998)

Introduced By

Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria)

Description

Local law-enforcement agencies; body-worn cameras. Requires localities to adopt and establish a written policy for the operation of a body-worn camera system that conforms to the model policy established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (the Department) prior to purchasing or deploying a body-worn camera system. The bill requires such policy to provide that (i) recorded individuals have a right to view and make copies of any audiovisual recording in which they are depicted; (ii) recordings be destroyed within 60 days unless certain exceptions apply; and (iii) the locality deploying the system review the recordings on a periodic basis to determine whether persons wearing the body-worn cameras are acting inappropriately or exhibiting bias. The bill provides that the Commonwealth shall reimburse each locality up to one-half of the costs of any body-worn camera system, provided that the locality has adopted and established a written policy that has been approved by the Department. The bill requires the Department to establish a model policy for the operation of body-worn camera systems and establish procedures for the reimbursement of counties and cities that purchase a body-worn camera system. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History