Post by Logan on Mar 18, 2016 19:04:39 GMT -6
COLUMBIA — Legislation that provides a process for releasing dash cam videos of police shootings and protects the last utterances of victims in 911 calls is headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee after approval by a Senate panel.
A Senate judiciary subcommittee voted unanimously Thursday to report the bill favorably after a compromise was reached. Some senators had said they wanted the public's right to access such videos to be balanced against the interests of law enforcement, prosecutors and defendants.
Under the bill, law enforcement dash camera videos of officer shootings would be considered public and available under the state Freedom of Information Act but police and prosecutors could ask a circuit judge to withhold their release if there is "clear and convincing" evidence the video falls under one of several exemptions, such as depriving a defendant the right to a fair trial, interfering with a prospective law enforcement action or constituting an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy.
The hearing must be requested within 15 days and would require a judge's private review of the video.
Read more: www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/17/senate-panel-advances-dash-cam-bill/81906014/
A Senate judiciary subcommittee voted unanimously Thursday to report the bill favorably after a compromise was reached. Some senators had said they wanted the public's right to access such videos to be balanced against the interests of law enforcement, prosecutors and defendants.
Under the bill, law enforcement dash camera videos of officer shootings would be considered public and available under the state Freedom of Information Act but police and prosecutors could ask a circuit judge to withhold their release if there is "clear and convincing" evidence the video falls under one of several exemptions, such as depriving a defendant the right to a fair trial, interfering with a prospective law enforcement action or constituting an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy.
The hearing must be requested within 15 days and would require a judge's private review of the video.
Read more: www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/17/senate-panel-advances-dash-cam-bill/81906014/