Police body cameras are becoming more common throughout Minnesota and the United States, and that’s a major win for transparency. When it’s your word against someone else’s, you can draw the short end of the stick if the other party comes off as more convincing, even if they aren’t telling the truth. A police body camera (or dash cam) eliminates a lot of doubt in these situations. But how can you leverage this recording to help your case? In today’s blog, we explore some of the ways you can use police body camera evidence to your advantage in your criminal case.
Using Body Camera Evidence To Help Your Case
If there is a police body camera recording, a dash camera recording or a business or bystander caught the incident on film, here’s a look at how you can leverage that recording to help with your case.
1. Review It For Police Accuracy – Compare what is seen in the recording to what is documented in the police report. If there are glaring errors or serious points of contention, you’ll want to make note of these concerns and bring them up during your defense.
2. Review It For Procedural Necessities – As we always say on this blog, the ends simply can’t justify the means in the legal world. You’ll want to review the video evidence to ensure that police followed due process during the course of their investigation. If they acted without a warrant, without permission, or otherwise failed to grant you due process protections, know that you may be able to get evidence or the entire case thrown out by a judge.
3. Review It For Demeanor – Was the other party or an officer combative during the altercation? Did their actions escalate the matter instead of helping deescalate the situation? Outside of due process violations, you’ll also want to review footage to get a better understand of the officer’s demeanor and how their actions played into how the situation unfolded. If it seems like the officer had it out for you, a good lawyer can work this into your defense.
4. Clarify Disputes – Of course, you’ll also want to review the footage to help settle a dispute. If one party claims you ran a red light but the video evidence says otherwise, you’ll undoubtedly point to the video evidence in court. If there are any disputes over what transpired, see if the video evidence clarifies what really went down.
5. Let Your Lawyer Have At It – Instead of trying to build your defense by yourself and determine which parts of the video evidence are most important for your case, let your lawyer take over. We know what to look for in video evidence and can spot things that the average citizen may miss, which could make all the difference in your criminal case. You have enough to worry about without also needing to comb over video evidence like the Zapruder film. Let a professional take over and use this evidence to build your case.
We’ve reviewed countless body camera videos and clips from security footage, and we know how to build a strong defense that uses video footage to our advantage. For more information on how we can help, or for assistance managing a different criminal matter, reach out to the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
