How to Request Bodycam Footage in Pennsylvania

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

Governing law

Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.) & Act 22 of 2017 for audio-video recordings

Who to send your request to

Agency Open-Records Officer. 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

$0.25/page; specialized documents at actual cost

Response timeline

5 business days; body-cam recordings have a separate Act 22 process

If your request is denied

Office of Open Records; body-cam requests routed under Act 22 within 60 days of incident. Ask for the specific statutory exemption cited; boilerplate "ongoing investigation" denials are frequently reversed on appeal.