Across PA, police officers often wear body cameras to obtain audio and video recordings. While these recordings can sometimes help the prosecution by corroborating a police officer's account, they can also help the defense. Let me show you why.
How Can Police Bodycam Footage Help My Defense?
While police officers can rely on bodycam footage to support their version of events, the footage can also help the defense, particularly if your case goes to trial.
- Bodycam footage may allow us to contradict a police officer's version of events, which could strengthen your case.
- We can also use bodycam footage to corroborate or discredit a witness testimony, which may help us prove your innocence.
- Bodycam footage, whether it's audio or video, can reveal whether a police officer acted inappropriately at any stage or attempted to coerce you into taking certain actions.
- If your case goes to trial and the police can't provide bodycam footage to support their statement, the jurors may view this as suspicious, which can support your case.
Think of it this way. Before bodycam footage, judges and jurors typically faced one dilemma: which account should they believe, the police officer's or the defendant's? Unsurprisingly, this often placed a defendant at a disadvantage. Bodycam footage, however, helps the courts take an objective view of the evidence and evaluate your defense more fairly.
So, while bodycam footage can sometimes be used against you if it supports a police officer's testimony, it could actually support your defense in some cases.
Don't take any plea deal until a skilled PA attorney like Joseph Lento has the opportunity to review the bodycam footage and explain whether it strengthens or weakens your defense.
How Do I Access Bodycam Footage?
In PA, bodycam footage isn't public record, so you need to consult with a skilled criminal attorney who can pursue this footage for you under Act 22 of 2017. We must submit this request within 60 days of the recording date, so it's crucial you consult with an attorney as soon as possible if you're facing criminal charges.
There's always the chance that the Pennsylvania State Police will refuse the request, but it's possible to appeal their decision.
It's not always easy to get a hold of bodycam footage, but we will work tirelessly to ensure we obtain all police video or audio recordings available. Once we review the footage, we can evaluate your defense and decide on the best strategy for moving your case forward.
Trust LLF Law Firm To Assess the Situation
LLF Law Firm are skilled PA attorneys with the experience and dedication necessary to pursue bodycam footage on your behalf and assess if it supports your case. To find out how we can help, call 888-535-3686 or contact the LLF Law Firm online.
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