How do I ask for discovery for dashcam and bodycam footage?

General Discussions Forum
1

I need to request dashcam footage, bodycam footage, and officer notes for my traffic court case. What exactly should I send, and who do I send it to if there’s no prosecutor? I do have time to get this done, so I just want to make sure I get it right.

2

If there’s no prosecutor, you’ll need to send your request directly to the judge. The judge will then order the other party to provide the materials you’re asking for.

3

Jaden said:
If there’s no prosecutor, you’ll need to send your request directly to the judge. The judge will then order the other party to provide the materials you’re asking for.

Got it, thanks! So I just give it to the clerk and they’ll forward it to the judge, right?

4

You don’t need to use any special legal language unless the court asks for it. Just write it in plain English, requesting the dashcam footage, bodycam footage, and officer notes. It’s pretty straightforward.

5

@Reagan
Oh, I was worried about needing legal jargon. Glad to hear it’s that simple! Thanks a lot!

6

If you want an example, the best place to ask would be the clerk at the traffic court. They should have examples or templates you can follow.

7

Zion said:
If you want an example, the best place to ask would be the clerk at the traffic court. They should have examples or templates you can follow.

I’ll check with them! Sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the tip!

8

Don’t forget to give the court at least 5 days’ notice for your request. If you can, try to give 7-10 days to be safe.

9

Cade said:
Don’t forget to give the court at least 5 days’ notice for your request. If you can, try to give 7-10 days to be safe.

Thanks for that! I’ll aim for the 7-10 day window to make sure everything’s on track.

10

It’s really not too complicated once you know who to send it to. The clerk will probably be your best resource for any formatting questions too.

11

Remy said:
It’s really not too complicated once you know who to send it to. The clerk will probably be your best resource for any formatting questions too.

Thanks, that’s reassuring! I’ll make sure to ask the clerk for any details.