Body Camera Legislation By State: All You Need To Know When Implementing a Program

The use of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) by police in the USA is legislated on a state-by-state basis. For this reason, any department looking to implement a BWC program needs to know where it stands in relation to local laws. 

For your reference, below you will find a list of states with legislation relating to the use of body worn cameras by law enforcement. For ease of reference, the list is separated into six broad categories. Keep in mind it refers to state-wide legislation, as opposed to individual departments.

Requirement for Law Enforcement to Wear Body Cameras

According to 2024 data compiled by World Population Review, The following states and the District of Columbia now mandate the statewide use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers.

Additional states with pending BWC legislation include Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. 

Body Worn Camera Funding

According to National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) data, thirteen states and the District of Columbia have legislated funding opportunities for state and local police departments to purchase body camera equipment, hire new support staff and operate or purchase data systems. These include:

Need assistance with funding? Kustom Signals partners with PoliceGrantsHelp.com to help agencies apply for grant and funding opportunities, as well as make them aware of additional grants available.

Body Worn Camera Data and Open Record Laws

Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have legislation concerning BWC data and open records:

Body Worn Camera Data and Eavesdropping Laws

Seven states have legislation concerning eavesdropping that makes exceptions for police officers wearing body cameras while in the performance of their duties. These are:

Oregon’s law provides additional guidance for their eavesdropping exception, stating it does not apply if the officer fails to announce the conversation is being recorded, having had an opportunity to do so without jeopardizing their safety or impairing a criminal investigation.

Written Body Worn Camera Policies

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia require written policies in order for law enforcement to use or receive funding for body-worn cameras. Legislation sets statutory minimum standards for policies, requires state entities to write or coordinate the development of policies and charges individual departments with creating their own policies. These are:

Body Worn Camera Studies

Ten states and the District of Columbia have authorized pilot programs or charged workgroups or agencies with studying body-worn cameras. These include:

Kustom Signals Is Your Source for BWC Technology

As law enforcement agencies move toward the adoption of body worn cameras, consider that Argus Body Worn Camera technology from Kustom Signals offers a host of proven features and advantages for law enforcement, including: 

• Automatically triggered by events including running, falls, gunshot detection, and more
• Sends alerts sent back to administration to allow for situation assessment
• Allows administration to see exactly what the officer sees and find them via GPS 
• 4G capable with 12-hour battery life provided by hot swappable battery 
• Removes background noise from footage
• Integrates with the Argus in-car video system and Argus Data Vault for digital evidence management

To learn more about Argus BWC and request a quote, contact Kustom Signals.