Our team at Jacqui Ford Law hopes that these situations are never necessary, but if it happens to you or someone you know, you’ll want to be ready.īystanders and their smartphones have proven to be a very powerful tool in police brutality cases, whether justice was served or not. These tips - along with common sense - should help keep yourself as safe as possible and allow your video to be used as evidence in the future, if need be.
Also, hold your phone horizontally to allow more in each shot. You can do this by keeping the camera in one position for at least 10 seconds and only moving slowly, not in quick bursts and jerks. Allow the audience to really see what’s happening in the video.You can even choose to sort of narrate what’s happening in the video so it’s clear to your audience, but it’s important to keep your commentary factual and unbiased. Show what needs to be shown on the videoīe sure there’s evidence in your video that proves it’s real - verify time and date by showing a clock, street signs to show your location, names and badge numbers of officers to prove who they are, etc.Similarly, set your phone up to automatically save any photos or videos to a cloud or Google Drive in case your phone gets confiscated. Make sure your phone has a passcode, not just fingerprint or facial recognition, before you start recording. You have a 1st Amendment right to record law enforcement IF you are not “interfering.” The officer will be the one who decides whether or not you are interfering, so it’s important to keep a distance and comply with any orders you’re given (you can even say “I’m complying with your orders” on the video just so it’s clear). If for some reason you feel unsafe taking a video, you can stand in solidarity with the victim and/or take notes on what’s happening. You need to be mindful of your safety AND the safety of the person you are filming. In light of the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd (among others), people across the United States have taken to the streets to protest police misconduct and brutality.īut whether you’re protesting or simply witnessing police misconduct on the street, it’s important to stay safe while filming these acts.
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