Make body Camera’s required for police officers in all police departments of Minnesota.

 

This bill aims to make people feel safer in situations where they are stopped by police officers. This would benefit the

officers as well so that in situations where officers are accused of something but not at fault, the recordings on the

body cameras may be used to prove their innocence. How it would benefit the people is, in situations where people are

found to maybe be threatened by police, they will have evidence backing them in court so that both parties would feel it

is equally fair. Additionally these body cameras may also capture evidence that may be used in cases in court.

 

 

There is no statewide law in Minnesota that requires all police officers to wear body cameras; however most police

stations already have the rule implemented in their own task force by their local police departments and sheriff

offices. Approximately 75% of Minnesota police departments currently use body cameras. So this bill would really just be

addressing police departments that do not already have body cameras required for their officers. The Minnesota state

patrol issued 705 body cameras to its sworn and non-sworn members, and in the first few months after its project

completion in May 2022, the agency had captured more than 281,680 pieces of video evidence. With this bill police

departments would have the right to make their own rules regarding the body cameras, for example; when they are to be

put on before work, and taken off after work and things like that. This bill would only be enforcing and requiring body

cameras on officers in Minnesota, but other than that everything else would be up to the police departments to decide

for their officers.

 

Statewide: Happening or existing throughout all parts of a U.S state.

Body cams: Small wearable audio-video recording devices, often called body cams or body-worn cameras, that are attached

to a person's body to document their activities and interactions.

Law: A system of rules and principles that regulate the conduct of a community and is enforced by controlling authority

through penalties.

penalty: A punishment for violating a rule, law, or contract, which can include fines, imprisonment or other

disadvantages.

Police department: A government agency responsible for enforcing laws, preventing crime, and protecting the public and

property within a specific jurisdiction.

Government grant: A non-repayable financial award for a federal, state or local government to fund a specific project or

initiative that benefits the public.

Minnesota state patrol: The primary state law enforcement agency for Minnesota, responsible for traffic safety,

enforcement of traffic laws, and providing assistance to other law enforcement agencies.

 

Government grants will help with funding. To receive government grants, police departments can apply for them on agency

websites that grant opportunities to receive government grants for various federal programs like Grants.gov. Government

grants hold enough money in them to fund body cameras for police departments in the state of Minnesota.

 

Penalties for police officers who refuse to wear their body cameras can be provided by police departments. To leave them

still in charge without forcing too much on them, they will be able to decide the penalty and rules regarding the body

cameras.

 

This bill would need to be effective by March 20 2025. Penalties for not putting this bill into effect by March 20 2025

will be decided if there are any police departments left that have not enforced body cameras for all their officers by

then.