Caught on camera

Filming Police Violence in the United States

Check out our tip sheet on safely, ethically and effectively filming the police in the U.S.

Image: Police officers confront man during 2014 Ferguson protests.
Based off of a photo from Whitney Curtis for The New York Times.

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Protest Tips

Featured Resources

Overview and Analysis

How many videos of abuse have never seen the light of day because they were confiscated or destroyed? How many were never released because the witness feared retribution? How many have only received minimal media attention, and failed to result in a serious investigation?

A survey of four recent cases in the U.S. — and several around the world — challenge assumptions about the role of video in attaining accountability for abuse, and point to ways filmers, advocates, journalists, and the justice system can use video effectively for change.

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Featured Cases

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More Resources

HOW TO FILM THE POLICE

HOW TO FILM THE POLICE

TIP SHEET
Learn how to film the police safely, ethically and effectively. 
INTERVIEWING WITH CARE

INTERVIEWING WITH CARE

ZINE
This guide is for anyone conducting interviews on camera for advocacy, media, historical or artistic purposes with individuals who have been directly impacted by state-sanctioned violence. 
ETHICALLY SHARING VIDEOS OF POLICE ABUSE

ETHICALLY SHARING VIDEOS OF POLICE ABUSE

IN THE U.S.
Follow this guidance to determine how to safely, ethically and effectively share your video of police abuse online.
SHARING VIDEOS WITH JOURNALISTS

SHARING VIDEOS WITH JOURNALISTS

PODCAST
We spoke with independent journalist Nick Pinto about how he uses eyewitness video of police abuse in his work and how to safely and effectively share videos with media.
WANT TO RECORD THE COPS? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

WANT TO RECORD THE COPS? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

#RIGHT2RECORD
Consult this blog post to learn your rights and access more resources. 
HOW COULD WIRETAPPING LAWS AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO FILM POLICE?

HOW COULD WIRETAPPING LAWS AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO FILM POLICE?

#RIGHT2RECORD
Wiretapping laws were intended to protect people’s privacy, but sometimes they’re used to challenge the #RightToRecord law enforcement.
PROFILING THE POLICE

PROFILING THE POLICE

USING EYEWITNESS VIDEO AS DATA
We reviewed over 300 hours of police abuse footage from El Grito de Sunset Park, a community-led organization in Brooklyn. In this project we share our learnings, tips and tools for organizing, analyzing and preserving human rights video collections to help ensure greater transparency and accountability.
USE THIS APP TO FILM THE POLICE

USE THIS APP TO FILM THE POLICE

OR NOT
What do you need to have and know to be ready to film police safely and effectively, with or without a dedicated mobile app?
NOW WHAT?

NOW WHAT?

YOU CAPTURED POLICE ABUSE ON VIDEO
Before sharing a video of police abuse online, it’s important to pause and consider how to release it in a safe, ethical and strategic way.
THE PEOPLE'S DATABASE

THE PEOPLE'S DATABASE

FOR COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING AND ACCOUNTABILITY
A set of tools and guidance from WITNESS + Berkeley Copwatch to support community-based police accountability groups in collecting, organizing and storing documentation of police encounters so that they can more quickly and effectively conduct investigations, coordinate justice campaigns, and challenge unjust laws, policies and police practices. 
FILMING POLICE ABUSE

FILMING POLICE ABUSE

A ROUNDUP OF RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE
A compilation of training resources and guidance to support anyone filming interactions with police or incidents of police abuse in the U.S.
``JUSTICE FOR GEORGE``

``JUSTICE FOR GEORGE``

LEARNINGS FROM BLM PROTESTS
This series of case studies explores the role of video capturing police abuse in the Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Stories

DOUNYA ZAYER

DOUNYA ZAYER

The video of Dounya being violently shoved may only be nine seconds long, but the trauma captured has lasted far beyond those frames. Read this interview with Teen Vogue to learn more about Dounya’s story. 
POLICE BODY CAMERAS

POLICE BODY CAMERAS

WON'T SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS
Following the police killings of Michael Brown Jr. and Eric Garner, many advocated for the widespread adoption of police body cameras. Five years later, we look back at our initial predictions, what we’ve learned and offer recommendations for moving forward.
DISPATCH FROM BRAZIL

DISPATCH FROM BRAZIL

IF KILLED BY POLICE, GUILTY BY DEFAULT...
UNLESS THERE’S VIDEO?
Every year thousands of people in Brazil are murdered by the police, yet only 0.8% of the cases are ever investigated or brought to justice.
POLICE MISCONDUCT IN THE U.S.

POLICE MISCONDUCT IN THE U.S.

THE ROLE OF BYSTANDER VIDEOS
Oscar Grant. Michael Brown. Eric Garner. Walter Scott. The names of unarmed black men killed by police across the United States have etched their way into the public memory, becoming symbols of unjust policing.
YOUTH SPEAK TRUTH

YOUTH SPEAK TRUTH

RECLAIMING THE STORY OF MIKE BROWN JR.
Youth in Ferguson, including Mike Brown’s siblings, use video and media to shift the narrative around racialized violence and police killings in the US.
LIVESTREAM - FROM RIO TO NYC

LIVESTREAM - FROM RIO TO NYC

CAN VIDEO END IMPUNITY FOR POLICE ABUSE?
Watch our panel conversation with activists and legal experts on eyewitness video in Brazil and the US, moderated by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!
GETTING THE TRUTH OUT

GETTING THE TRUTH OUT

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE
The Truth Telling Project in St. Louis, MO discusses the role oral histories can play in creating healing spaces and seeking justice.
COMMUNITY-LED FIRST RESPONDERS

COMMUNITY-LED FIRST RESPONDERS

USING VIDEO TO DOCUMENT POLICE ABUSE
Our work in St. Louis, MO with the STL First Responders, a group of activists trained to document evidence when police shootings occur in their community. 
COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES TO ARCHIVING VIDEO

COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES TO ARCHIVING VIDEO

LEARNING FROM BLACK LIVES MATTER
New initiatives out of Ferguson, Baltimore and Cleveland collect and preserve records of police abuse and protest movements.
THE NYPD WANTS

THE NYPD WANTS

YOUR THOUGHTS ON BODYCAMS (KIND OF)
Many police departments in the US, including the NYPD, are expanding their use of bodycams. But is this enough?

Media Highlights…

 

TRIGGER WARNING

This report contains depictions of war, abuse, examples of, or links to content that features, hate speech.

Trigger Warning

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