Published October 6, 2026
Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
Step 1: Gather the details
Agencies find footage by date, time and place. Before you request, write down:
- The date and approximate time (a 30 to 60 minute window works best)
- The exact location (address or nearest intersection)
- Officer names, badge numbers or car numbers, if known
- Any case, report or citation number
Step 2: Send a written request to the right agency
Send your request to the records custodian of the agency whose officers were there: city police, sheriff, state police or campus police. Put it in writing, by email or the agency's online portal if it has one, so you have a dated record.
Use the free CopFax request letter generator. It cites your state's public records law, lists the records precisely and asks for a fee estimate and the legal reason for any denial.
Step 3: Know what can be withheld
Every state has exemptions. Common ones for video:
- Active investigations: footage may be held until a case closes
- Privacy: faces of victims or minors, or footage inside homes or medical settings, may be redacted
- Specific body camera laws: some states have special rules. In North Carolina, police body camera footage is released only by court order. In Pennsylvania, police video must be requested within 60 days of the recording under Act 22, not the regular Right-to-Know Law.
- Residency: Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia limit records rights to their own residents. Say in your request that you live in the state.
Check your state's rules on its public records page.
Step 4: Expect fees and timelines
Agencies may charge for staff time to review and redact video. Ask for an estimate first. Response deadlines range from a few business days to "promptly," depending on the state.
Step 5: If you are denied
Ask for the specific exemption in writing. Most states offer an appeal or a court remedy, and some have an ombudsman or attorney general office that can help.
CopFax is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.