Louisiana
Louisiana Police Bodycam Laws (2026): Retention & Records
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Louisiana law require every police department to use body cameras?
No. Louisiana has no statewide statute mandating body-camera use. La. R.S. 40:2551 only requires that an agency choosing to use body-worn cameras adopt a written activation and deactivation policy by January 1, 2022. Whether to buy and deploy the cameras at all remains a local decision for each parish or municipal agency.
What Louisiana law governs body-worn camera policies?
La. R.S. 40:2551 requires any law enforcement agency that uses body-worn cameras to have a written policy on when officers must activate and deactivate them, effective January 1, 2022 under Acts 2021, No. 430. Public access to the resulting footage is governed separately, by La. R.S. 44:3 and 44:35.
How long does a Louisiana police department have to keep body-camera footage?
There is no fixed statewide number. Louisiana law does not set a retention period for body-worn camera recordings; each agency's own written policy sets its retention schedule, and schedules vary between departments.
How do I request body-camera footage of a specific incident in Louisiana?
Submit a public-records request to the agency that made the recording under La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. The request must be incident specific under La. R.S. 44:3(I), meaning it should identify the date, time, location, or persons involved rather than asking broadly for all footage.
Can Louisiana police deny my request for body-camera footage?
Yes, in limited circumstances. A custodian may withhold footage under La. R.S. 44:3(A)(8) if release would violate a depicted person's reasonable expectation of privacy; disclosure then requires a court order under La. R.S. 44:35. A requester who believes a denial was wrong can file for a writ of mandamus under that same section.
Do Louisiana police need my consent to record me with a body camera?
No. Louisiana is a one-party consent state, and an on-duty officer recording a member of the public in the course of official duties needs no one's permission. For more on the separate question of civilians recording police, see [Is It Illegal to Record Someone?](/us-laws/is-it-illegal-to-record-someone/).
Did a Louisiana court ever order police to release body-camera footage?
Yes. In 2019, a state judge ordered the Louisiana State Police to release dashcam and body-camera video of a traffic stop after The Advocate sued under the state's public-records law, in what was reported as the first such Louisiana case not tied to an active criminal investigation.
Sources and References
- La. R.S. 40:2551 (Use of body-worn cameras; activation and deactivation policy required by January 1, 2022, Acts 2021, No. 430)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 44:3 (Records of prosecutive, investigative, and law enforcement agencies; body-worn camera privacy exemption at (A)(8), incident-specific request requirement at (I), court-order pathway cross-referencing R.S. 44:35)(legis.la.gov).gov
- National Conference of State Legislatures, Body-Worn Camera Laws Database (Louisiana is not among the states with a statewide use mandate)(ncsl.org)
- MuckRock, "Louisiana judge grants access to state police body-camera footage" (2019 Advocate v. Louisiana State Police case)(muckrock.com)
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, "Federal Court Terminates Consent Decree Regarding the New Orleans Police Department After Successful Reforms"(justice.gov).gov