REQUESTING AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS FROM JEFFERSON HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
NOTE: Do not request Jefferson Hills Police audio or video recordings using the Act of February 14, 2008 (P.L. 6, No. 3) known as the Right-to-Know Law. This page contains instructions for requesting audio and video recordings.
Overview
Act 22 of 2017 (specifically, Chapter 67A of the Act) applies to individuals seeking “any audio recording or video recording made by a law enforcement agency.” The Right-to-Know Law does not apply to requests for these recordings.
Act 22 defines “law enforcement agency” as:
- The Office of Attorney General
- A District Attorney’s Office; or
- An agency that employs a law enforcement officer.
Act 22 defines a “law enforcement officer” as “an officer of the United States, the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, another state or political subdivision thereof or who is empowered by law to conduct investigations of or to make arrests for offenses enumerated in this chapter or an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, a sheriff or deputy sheriff and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of the offense.”
Information Needed to File a Request
Under Act 22, a request for an audio or video recording in the possession of a law enforcement agency must be made within 60 days of the date the recording was made.
The written request must be submitted to the Right-to-Know Officer (RTKO) for the law enforcement agency that possesses the record. The request is not officially received until it is personally delivered to the RTKO, or when it is marked “delivered” by certified mail.
The request must include:
- The date, time and location of the event recorded;
- A statement describing the requester’s relationship to the event recorded; and
- If the recorded incident took place inside a residence, the request must also identify every person present at the time of the recording, unless unknown and not reasonably ascertainable.
Under Act 22, the agency may deny the request – in writing – if it determines that a recording contains:
- Potential evidence in a criminal matter; or
- Information pertaining to an investigation or a matter in which a criminal charge has been filed; or
- Confidential information or victim information; and
- The reasonable redaction of the recording would not safeguard potential evidence.
Submitting a Request
Please complete the following forms:
All completed request forms can be hand-delivered, sent by certified mail, or via email to the address below. Additionally, a copy of
all requests
must be sent to the
Jefferson Hills Police Department via EMAIL [email protected]
Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office
Act 22-Video/Audio Request
1444 Hillsdale Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15216
Office: 412-388-5300
Fax: 412-388-5324
Fee Associated with Granted Requests
Act 22 permits law enforcement agencies to charge a reasonable fee to provide a copy of an audio recording or video recording. The JHPD has entered into an agreement with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office to review and process all Act 22 requests. In accordance with ACT 22, the District Attorney's Office has established a fee structure for granted audio or video recordings.
How to Appeal a Denied Request
If an ACT 22 request is denied, the requester may appeal within 30 days of the date of denial to the Court of Common Pleas with jurisdiction over the matter (i.e., the court in the county where the recorded event took place).
The appeal is filed as a Petition for Judicial Review and must include:
- A filing fee of $125;
- A copy of the written request and any written responses; and
- Proof that the Right-to-Know Officer was served within five days of the filing of the Petition;
- If the event recorded took place inside a residence, the petitioner must also certify that notice of the petition has been served on each individual present at the time of the recording and on the owner and occupant of the residence, unless that information is unknown and not reasonably ascertainable.