Kentucky
Kentucky Police Body Camera Laws: KRS 61.168 & Access
Kentucky has no general body-camera mandate, but Senate Bill 4, passed after Breonna Taylor's 2020 death, requires specially trained teams to wear activated cameras when executing no-knock warrants. Disclosure of any footage that exists runs through and the state's Open Records Act.
This guide is part of our Police Bodycam Laws by State series.
Jurisdiction scope: This article addresses Kentucky law governing police body cameras: the narrow warrant-execution camera mandate created by Senate Bill 4, the disclosure framework, and the Kentucky Open Records Act request process. It does not address a civilian's right to record law enforcement, which is covered separately in our guide to recording laws.
Does Kentucky require police to wear body cameras?
Not in general. Kentucky has no statute requiring every officer, or even every patrol officer, to wear a body camera. Whether a department issues cameras at all, and its rules for when to turn them on, are set locally, though the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program conditions part of an agency's state funding eligibility on having a written body-worn camera policy on file.
There is one specific, narrower mandate. Senate Bill 4, signed on April 9, 2021, a year after Breonna Taylor's death, requires that any search or arrest warrant executed without prior notice, commonly called a "no-knock" warrant, be carried out by a specially trained response team wearing activated body cameras and clearly identifying insignia. Counties with fewer than 90,000 residents can seek a court-approved exemption from the specialized-team requirement. Outside that specific warrant-execution context, Kentucky law does not require an officer to be wearing a camera during an ordinary patrol stop or call for service.
Is Kentucky bodycam footage a public record?
It can be, but access runs through the state's general open-records framework rather than a bodycam-specific open-or-closed rule. KRS 61.168, enacted in 2018 through House Bill 373, provides that disclosure, retention, and availability for viewing of body-worn camera recordings are governed by the Kentucky Open Records Act, to 61.884, and that retention itself follows the state records schedules at to 171.740, administered with the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
KRS 61.168 lists specific categories an agency may withhold or must redact: footage showing the interior of a private residence, a medical or mental health facility, or a jail; a deceased person; evidence of a sexual assault; a nude body; and a minor, among others. Where a recording documents a use of force by an officer, the statute directs that disclosure is governed solely by the general Open Records Act and its ordinary exceptions, so a use-of-force recording gets no automatic fast-track and no automatic exemption beyond what any other law enforcement record would get.
How do you request bodycam footage under Kentucky's Open Records Act?
A written request goes to the agency's records custodian under to 61.884. As of a 2021 amendment to , the agency generally must decide within five business days of receipt whether it will comply, up from the three-day deadline that applied before that change, and must notify the requester of its decision in writing.
An agency that wants to withhold footage outside the specific KRS 61.168 categories often relies on the general law enforcement exemption at (1)(h), covering records compiled in detecting or investigating a violation whose release would harm a prospective law enforcement action. Kentucky courts have held that an agency cannot invoke that exemption just because an investigation is open; it must show a concrete, articulable risk of harm from releasing the specific record, not a generic concern about an ongoing case.
Can an attorney get a copy of the footage?
Sometimes, and with more than a viewing right. lets a copy of a body-worn camera recording go to an attorney who represents a person or entity directly involved in the incident shown in the footage, if the attorney is licensed to practice law in Kentucky, has not been disqualified under the statute, and executes an affidavit accepting responsibility for the recording's care and custody. That is a broader right than a member of the public gets under a standard open-records request, which may result only in an opportunity to inspect or a redacted copy.
| Question | Kentucky rule |
|---|---|
| Statewide camera mandate | No, except specialized teams executing no-knock warrants (SB 4, 2021) |
| Governing disclosure statute | KRS 61.168 (2018), applying the general Open Records Act |
| Standard response deadline | 5 business days (, as amended 2021) |
| Categories an agency may withhold | Private residence/facility interiors, deceased persons, sexual assault evidence, nudity, minors |
| Use-of-force footage | No special fast-track; governed by ordinary Open Records Act exceptions |
| Attorney copy right | Yes, under , with licensing and custody-affidavit conditions |
Breonna Taylor and the missing body camera footage
On March 13, 2020, Louisville Metro Police officers executed a warrant at Breonna Taylor's apartment and fatally shot her during the encounter. Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly, Detective Myles Cosgrove, and Detective Brett Hankison, the officers who forced entry, were members of LMPD's Criminal Interdiction Division, a narcotics unit that had not issued body cameras to its detectives. None of the three were wearing one that night.
The absence of footage became a defining fact of the case and a national flashpoint, feeding directly into the push for Senate Bill 4. The law that resulted does not require every Kentucky officer to wear a camera, but it specifically closes the gap that existed in Taylor's case: any team executing a no-knock warrant must now wear activated cameras and display visible identification.
Is it illegal to record police in Kentucky?
That is a separate question from the one this page addresses. Kentucky generally recognizes a person's right to record an on-duty officer performing public duties in a public place. For a full explanation of that right and how it differs from the rules on police-generated bodycam footage discussed here, see Is It Illegal to Record Someone?
More Kentucky Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kentucky require police officers to wear body cameras?
Not in general. Kentucky has no statewide mandate for ordinary patrol officers. The one specific requirement is for specially trained teams executing a no-knock warrant, who must wear activated cameras under Senate Bill 4 (2021).
Is police bodycam footage a public record in Kentucky?
It can be. KRS 61.168 routes disclosure through the Kentucky Open Records Act, which lets an agency withhold or redact specific categories, such as footage showing a private residence's interior, a deceased person, or a minor.
What is Kentucky's Breonna's Law?
The name commonly refers to Senate Bill 4 (2021), which limits no-knock warrants statewide and requires any specialized team executing one to wear activated body cameras. It followed the March 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor, whose officers were not wearing cameras.
How long does a Kentucky agency have to respond to an open-records request for bodycam footage?
Generally five business days from receipt of the request, under a 2021 amendment to KRS 61.880 that extended the prior three-day deadline.
Can my attorney get a copy of Kentucky bodycam footage?
Yes, if the attorney represents a person directly involved in the incident, is licensed in Kentucky, is not disqualified, and signs an affidavit accepting responsibility for the recording's custody, under KRS 61.169.
Is bodycam footage of a police use of force treated differently in Kentucky?
No special fast-track exists. KRS 61.168 provides that use-of-force recordings are disclosed under the same general Open Records Act exceptions that apply to any other law enforcement record.
Is it illegal to record on-duty police in Kentucky?
No, recording an on-duty officer performing public duties in a public place is generally protected. That is a separate question from public access to police-recorded bodycam footage covered on this page.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on 7 statutory provisions held in our own legal record, each retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 15: DEPARTMENT OF LAW
§ 15.257Requirements for distribution of explanatory materials -- Open Records and Open Meetings laws -- Retention and management of public recordsIn force
(1) The Office of the Attorney General shall, within ninety (90) days of June 20, 2005, and thereafter, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of any legislation amending the provisions of the Open Meetings Act or the Open Records Act, distribute to all county judge/executives, mayors, county attorneys, city attorneys, superintendents of public school districts, presidents of each of the state public postsecondary education institutions identified in KRS 161.220(4)(b) or 164.001, and attorneys of public school districts and public postsecondary education institutions throughout Kentucky written information prepared by the Office of the Attorney General that explains the procedural and substantive provisions of the Open Meetings Act, KRS 61.805 to 61.850, and the Open Records Act, KRS 61.870 to 61.884, together with the information required by KRS 171.223 to be prepared by the Department for Libraries and Archives concerning proper retention and management of public records. This distribution may be by electronic means.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 171: STATE LIBRARIES -- LIBRARIANS -- STATE ARCHIVES AND RECORDS -- HISTORICAL AFFAIRS
§ 171.410Definitions for KRS 171.420 to 171.740In force
As used in KRS 171.420 to 171.740: (1) "Public record or record" means all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, disks, diskettes, recordings, and other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, which are prepared, owned, used, in the possession of or retained by a public agency. "Public record" shall not include any records owned by a private person or corporation that are not related to functions, activities, programs or operations funded by state or local authority; (2) "Department" means the Department for Libraries and Archives; (3) "Commission" means the State Archives and Records Commission; and (4) "Public agency" means every state or local office, state department, division, bureau, board, commission and authority; every legislative board, commission, committee and officer; every county and city governing body, council, school district board, special district board, municipal corporation, and any board, department, commission, committee, subcommittee, ad hoc committee, council or agency thereof; and any other body which is created by state or local authority and which derives at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its funds from…
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 5 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2025
Leading cases: Commonwealth, Department of Corrections v. Chestnut (Kentucky Supreme Court 2008, 250 S.W.3d 655) · York v. Commonwealth (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1991, 815 S.W.2d 415) · Nathan Torian, Individually, and as a Representative of a Class of Similarly Situated Persons Comprising the Unincorporated Labor Organization, the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 168 v. City of Paducah, Kentucky (Kentucky Supreme Court 2025)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 61: GENERAL PROVISIONS AS TO OFFICES AND OFFICERS -- SOCIAL SECURITY FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES -- EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM
§ 61.168Body-worn cameras and video and audio recordings -- Disclosure, retention, and availability for viewing governed by KRS 61.870 to 61.884 and 171.410 to 171.740 -- ExceptionsIn forcecited in 10 of our articles
(1) As used in this section: (a) "Body-worn camera" means a video or audio electronic recording device that is carried by or worn on the body of a public safety officer. This definition does not include a dashboard mounted camera or recording device used in the course of clandestine investigations; (b) "Body-worn camera recording" or "recording" means a video or audio recording, or both, that is made by a body-worn camera during the course of a public safety officer's official duties; (c) "Personal representative" means a court-appointed guardian, attorney, or agent possessing written authorization to act on behalf of a person that is involved in an incident contained in a body-worn camera recording, a person holding a power of attorney for a person that is involved in an incident contained in a body-worn camera recording, or the parent or guardian of a minor child depicted in a body-worn camera recording.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 2 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2022
Leading cases: Courier Journal, Inc. v. Shively Police Department (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2022) · Nathaniel Parish v. Kaitlynn Patrice Petter (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2020)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Kentucky Public Records Laws: The Open Records Act (KRS 61.870) Explained, Kentucky Laws on Recording Police: Your First Amendment Rights
§ 61.169Attorney representing person or entity involved in body-worn camera recording incident -- Right to view copy of recording -- Limitations -- SanctionsIn force
(1) Subject to the provisions of KRS 61.870 to 61.884 and the following requirements, a copy of a recording that may be viewed under KRS 61.168(5)(d) shall, upon request, be made for and provided to an attorney that: (a) Is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; (b) Represents the person or entity that is directly involved in the incident contained in the body-worn camera recording; (c) Has not been disqualified under subsection (3) of this section; and (d) Executes an affidavit in support of limited release regarding the attorney's responsibility for the care and custody of the copy of the recording that specifically stipulates that he or she: 1. Will only use the recording for the sole purposes of evaluating or preparing for an existing or potential court case or administrative proceeding or in consulting with insurance companies on matters related to insurance coverage of incidents that are depicted in the recording; 2.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 1 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2020
Leading cases: Nathaniel Parish v. Kaitlynn Patrice Petter (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2020)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 61.870Definitions for KRS 61.870 to 61.884In forcecited in 4 of our articles
As used in KRS 61.870 to 61.884, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) "Public agency" means: (a) Every state or local government officer; (b) Every state or local government department, division, bureau, board, commission, and authority; (c) Every state or local legislative board, commission, committee, and officer; (d) Every county and city governing body, council, school district board, special district board, and municipal corporation; (e) Every state or local court or judicial agency; (f) Every state or local government agency, including the policy-making board of an institution of education, created by or pursuant to state or local statute, executive order, ordinance, resolution, or other legislative act; (g) Any body created by state or local authority in any branch of government; (h) Any body which, within any fiscal year, derives at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its funds expended by it in the Commonwealth of Kentucky from state or local authority funds.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 99 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2026
Leading cases: Beckham v. Bd. of Educ. of Jefferson Cty. (Kentucky Supreme Court 1994, 873 S.W.2d 575) · Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychologists v. Courier-Journal & Louisville Times Co. (Kentucky Supreme Court 1992, 826 S.W.2d 324) · Zink v. Commonwealth, Department of Workers' Claims, Labor Cabinet (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1994, 902 S.W.2d 825)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Public Records Laws by State: FOIA Guide for All 50 States (2026)
§ 61.878Certain public records exempted from inspection except on order of court -- Restriction of state employees to inspect personnel files prohibitedIn forcecited in 4 of our articles
(1) The following public records are excluded from the application of KRS 61.870 to 61.884 and shall be subject to inspection only upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction, except that no court shall authorize the inspection by any party of any materials pertaining to civil litigation beyond that which is provided by the Rules of Civil Procedure governing pretrial discovery: (a) Public records containing information of a personal nature where the public disclosure thereof would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (b) Records confidentially disclosed to an agency and compiled and maintained for scientific research. This exemption shall not, however, apply to records the disclosure or publication of which is directed by another statute; (c) 1. Records confidentially disclosed to an agency or required by an agency to be disclosed to it, generally recognized as confidential or proprietary, which if openly disclosed would permit an unfair commercial advantage to competitors of the entity that disclosed the records; 2.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 74 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2026
Leading cases: Beckham v. Bd. of Educ. of Jefferson Cty. (Kentucky Supreme Court 1994, 873 S.W.2d 575) · Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychologists v. Courier-Journal & Louisville Times Co. (Kentucky Supreme Court 1992, 826 S.W.2d 324) · Zink v. Commonwealth, Department of Workers' Claims, Labor Cabinet (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1994, 902 S.W.2d 825)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: How to Get a Police Report in Kentucky (2026 Guide)
§ 61.880Denial of inspection -- Role of Attorney GeneralIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(1) If a person enforces KRS 61.870 to 61.884 pursuant to this section, he or she shall begin enforcement under this subsection before proceeding to enforcement under subsection (2) of this section. Each public agency, upon any request for records made under KRS 61.870 to 61.884, shall determine within five (5) days, excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after the receipt of any such request whether to comply with the request and shall notify in writing the person making the request, within the five (5) day period, of its decision. An agency response denying, in whole or in part, inspection of any record shall include a statement of the specific exception authorizing the withholding of the record and a brief explanation of how the exception applies to the record withheld. The response shall be issued by the official custodian or under his or her authority, and it shall constitute final agency action.
Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-29 · Read the full section at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 62 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2026
Leading cases: Beckham v. Bd. of Educ. of Jefferson Cty. (Kentucky Supreme Court 1994, 873 S.W.2d 575) · Bowling v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (Kentucky Supreme Court 2005, 172 S.W.3d 333) · Commonwealth, Department of Corrections v. Chestnut (Kentucky Supreme Court 2008, 250 S.W.3d 655)
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
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Sources and References
- KRS 61.168, body-worn cameras and video and audio recordings, disclosure, retention, and availability for viewing(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 61.169, attorney representing person or entity involved in body-worn camera recording incident, right to view copy of recording(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 61.878, certain public records exempted from inspection, including the law enforcement investigatory exemption(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- Kentucky Attorney General, The Kentucky Open Records & Open Meetings Acts guide (KRS 15.257)(ag.ky.gov).gov
- Kentucky Legislature, Senate Bill 4 (2021 Regular Session), warrants authorizing entry without notice(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- NPR, Kentucky law limits use of no-knock warrants, a year after Breonna Taylor's killing(npr.org)
- WAVE 3 News, LMPD officers serving warrant at Breonna Taylor's home were not wearing body cameras(wave3.com)