Alpena P.D.

Summary for researchers: Michigan treats body-worn camera footage as public records subject to FOIA, but with specific privacy rules under the Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Privacy Act (PA 85 of 2017). General releases follow FOIA with a 5‑business‑day initial response and a possible 10‑business‑day extension. Ongoing investigations or civil actions involving the footage can be withheld, and disclosures in private places are restricted to enumerated persons (subject, property owners who were seized/damaged, parents/guardians, or attorneys). Recordings retained for investigations are exempt from disclosure; default retention is at least 30 days, with longer retention (at least 3 years) if related to a formal complaint. Agencies may redact personal information and victims’ information as allowed. When releasing, agencies must follow redaction rules and FOIA exemptions; fee considerations and large video files may affect processing time. See MSP policies for activation/retention and MDOC policy for corrections context. This is a policy overview for researchers and not legal advice; consult an attorney for case‑specific needs.