Evanston P.D.

Illinois treats officer-worn body camera footage as generally not public under FOIA, with strong limits on disclosure. The LEOBCA requires agencies to adopt written BWC policies based on Board guidelines, including minimum recording specifications and a 90-day retention rule. Footage is destroyed after 90 days unless an encounter is flagged for retention (e.g., complaint, use of force, death, arrest, etc.). When a FOIA request is made, agencies must respond within 5 business days (with a possible 5-day extension); FOIA exemptions (notably 7.5(cc)) limit disclosure of BWC recordings unless authorized by the LEOBCA. The subject of an encounter (or their attorney) can obtain access under LEOBCA; otherwise access is typically limited to the requester via FOIA under the Act’s exemptions. If FOIA is denied, requesters may go to the Public Access Counselor for review (within 60 days) or pursue court review. Agencies must follow Board guidelines and model policies; retention and access rules may vary by agency within the LEOBCA framework. Chicago-specific note: Chicago Police Department police shooting video is subject to the City of Chicago Video Release Policy, which generally uses a 60-calendar-day release window unless a court order or policy-authorized delay prevents release; this does not apply statewide to all Illinois agencies.