How to Request Bodycam Footage in Arkansas

A practical, jurisdiction-specific walkthrough for filing a public-records request for police body-worn camera video in Arkansas (AR). This guide is informational and not legal advice.

Governing law

Arkansas FOIA (Ark. Code § 25-19-101 et seq.)

Who to send your request to

Agency records custodian. If the incident involved multiple agencies (city PD plus state troopers plus sheriff), file parallel requests with each.

What to include in the request

The exact date, approximate time window, and location of the incident.
The case, incident, or CAD number if you have it.
Names or badge numbers of involved officers if known.
A clear statement invoking the state's public-records statute.
Your preferred delivery format (electronic file, DVD, thumb drive).
A fee ceiling — e.g. "please contact me before incurring charges above $25."

Fees

Actual reproduction cost only

Response timeline

3 business days for in-active-use records

If your request is denied

File suit in circuit court within reasonable time. Ask for the specific statutory exemption cited; boilerplate "ongoing investigation" denials are frequently reversed on appeal.