How to Request Bodycam Footage in Massachusetts

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

Governing law

Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. c. 66, § 10)

Who to send your request to

Records Access Officer (RAO). 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

$0.05/page; up to $25/hour for search beyond 4 hours

Response timeline

10 business days; extensions in writing

If your request is denied

Supervisor of Records at the Secretary of State. Ask for the specific statutory exemption cited; boilerplate "ongoing investigation" denials are frequently reversed on appeal.