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North Carolina Body Camera Law Goes Into Effect

A new law will limit who will be able to view police dashboard and body camera footage in North Carolina. KERI BROWN/WFDD

North Carolina's new body camera law went into effect on Saturday, October 1, 2016. It requires a court order for footage to be released, taking it out of public record. 

Critics of the law say it makes policing less transparent. 

Gov. Pat McCrory signed the controversial measure into law in July. It gives law enforcement more control over dashboard and body camera footage, and puts any request for that video in the hands of judges.  

Some people, like those in the footage or their families, may have access, but only if they get approval by authorities.

Supporters says this evidence can be misleading, and it protects the privacy of those involved.

But Wake Forest University law professor Kami Chavis Simmons says lawmakers need to revisit the measure.

“We need in North Carolina to think about striking the proper balance between privacy rights and transparency,” says Chavis Simmons. “I think our law is very restrictive. There are other jurisdictions that do a much better job in terms of protecting the integrity of an investigation but also the public's interest.”

This comes after news of unrest in Charlotte after the police shooting of Keith Scott. The release of body camera footage has been a rallying point for protesters.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

 

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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