New Police Policies for 2016: Part 4 (Special Rules for Police Camera Grants)
Municipalities throughout Illinois are taking action to promote the integrity of their police departments, as directed by a package of new laws adopted by the General Assembly last summer. Many of these new laws become effective on January 1, 2016. In this 5 part series, we take a look at how local police departments can be prepared with new policies governing officer-involved deaths, officer-worn body cameras, FOIA, use of force, and more.
Part 4 of 5 in the Series - Special Rules for Police Camera Grants
In 2016, the Law
Enforcement Camera Grant Fund will provide grants to local police
departments for purchasing in-car video cameras, officer-worn body cameras, and
training in their use. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board
may set eligibility requirements for grants, which will include:
The Board will consider compliance with the Uniform Crime Reporting Act in awarding grant moneys. Additional rules applicable to car camera
grants or body camera grants are listed below.
Car
Camera Grants
1. Cameras must be installed in the law
enforcement vehicles.
2. Videotaping must provide audio of the
officer when the officer is outside of the vehicle.
3. Camera access must be restricted to the supervisors
of the officer in the vehicle.
4. Cameras must be turned on continuously
throughout the officer's shift.
5. A copy of the videotape must be made
available upon request to personnel of the law enforcement agency, the local
State's Attorney, and any persons depicted in the video. Procedures for
distribution of the videotape must include safeguards to protect the identities
of individuals who are not a party to the requested stop.
6. The recordings must be stored for at least
2 years.
7. Annual reporting requirements, including
the number of cameras received and actually installed, a description of the review
process used by supervisors, details about any case where a video recording was
used, and any other information relevant to the administration of the program.
Body Camera Grants
1. Compliance with the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn
Body Camera Act.
2. Annual reporting requirements, including a
brief overview of the department including the number of body cameras and officers
using body cameras, any technical issues with the cameras, a description of the
review process used by supervisors, details about any case where a recording
was used, and details about any internal affairs investigation where a
recording was used, and any other information relevant to the administration of
the program.
Local
police departments should review their policies governing the use of in-car and
body cameras to maximize the opportunity for grant eligibility, and keep an eye
on the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standard’s Board’s website as
more grant information becomes available, http://www.ptb.state.il.us.
Post Authored by Daniel J. Bolin, Ancel Glink
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