N.Y.
Correction Law Section 135
New York state department of corrections and community supervision body-worn cameras program
1.
There is hereby created within the department a body-worn cameras program. The purpose of such program is to increase accountability and evidence for departmental and law enforcement purposes, department staff, residents of the state, and those under the department’s care by providing body-worn cameras to all correction officers, security supervisors, and any civilian staff as identified by the commissioner.2.
The department shall provide body-worn cameras that will be powered on and worn by correction officers and security supervisors at all times, while on duty. Incidents and activities that require staff to manually activate their body-worn cameras, regardless of the presence of fixed cameras, include but are not limited to:(a)
during any interaction with an incarcerated individual or visitor, in any location. This paragraph shall not apply when the office of special investigations or crisis intervention unit is conducting an interview with an incarcerated individual providing confidential information where a record of interview is completed;(b)
when staff observe unauthorized activity by an incarcerated individual, a department employee or any other person in the facility;(c)
during general movement of incarcerated individuals;(d)
when staff is responding to an emergency call for assistance;(e)
during all incarcerated individual escorts;(f)
during incarcerated individual transports, as directed by the facility watch commander or higher-ranking supervisor. When an employee enters a non-department facility, the employee will comply with the facility local policy on wearing the camera and recording. If a local policy does not exist, the employee shall default to department policy;(g)
when a firearm, oleoresin capsicum spray, or a baton is removed from its holster or holder;(h)
any instance where department staff feels there is an imminent threat or the need to document their time on duty;(i)
during all uses of force, including any physical aggression or use of a non-lethal or lethal weapon;(j)
during a disciplinary hearing when fixed video monitoring systems are not available where the disciplinary hearing is conducted. Such recordings will be securely preserved as part of the official hearing record for all Tier II and Tier III hearings pursuant to section 270.3 of the New York codes, rules and regulations. Audio recordings of all hearings will continue to be made regardless of whether the video monitoring system captures audio;(k)
as directed by the deputy commissioner or chief of investigations for the office of special investigations, or such deputy commissioner’s or chief of investigations’ designee, office of special investigations investigators may utilize body-worn camera systems pursuant to the office of special investigations policy. The use of such cameras by the office of special investigations investigators may include but is not limited to absconder/fugitive operations, facility inspections, monitoring of frisks, canine operations, high-risk in-state transports of incarcerated individuals or releasees, and investigative activities which are deemed appropriate to record;(l)
in congregate shower areas; provided, however, that staff shall provide a verbal announcement that a body-worn camera is in use and avoid intentional recording of an incarcerated individual in a state of undress unless they are required to do so as part of the performance of their duties;(m)
during all correctional emergency response team activations; and(n)
during a strip search or strip frisk; provided, however, that incarcerated individuals shall be given verbal notice that they are being recorded, and the following rules apply:(i)
The wearer of the body-worn camera shall be of the same gender as the gender designation of the facility. Video recordings of strip frisks or strip searches shall not be viewed by anyone, except as expressly authorized in writing by the facility’s deputy superintendent for security or higher authority. If the recording is approved for review, the deputy superintendent for security shall assure this fact is documented to include date, time, authorization, reviewer name, explanation of why the review is necessary, and the result of such review.(ii)
A body-worn camera recording of any strip search or strip frisk shall immediately be turned over to an officer assigned to upload, charge, and issue such cameras to assigned staff for uploading and storage.(iii)
The video footage of a strip frisk or other incident depicting an incarcerated individual in a state of complete undress shall only be viewed by department staff who are of the same gender as the gender designation of the facility.3.
The commissioner shall have the authority to require civilian staff assigned to a correctional facility to wear body-worn cameras while on duty where the civilian employee has direct supervision of an incarcerated individual with only intermittent security supervision. In instances where the commissioner has required a civilian to wear a body-worn camera while on duty, such cameras shall be activated and shall record:(a)
while interacting with an incarcerated individual, regardless of the existence of fixed-video monitoring; and(b)
while such employee is in the area of a use of force incident, including any physical aggression or use of a non-lethal or lethal weapon.4.
The department shall preserve recordings of such body-worn cameras for at least ninety days.5.
The department shall perform all necessary maintenance on the equipment used in such body-worn camera program established pursuant to this section.6.
The commissioner of the department shall solely determine the timing and appropriateness of any review or provision of body-worn camera footage to an employee prior to that employee being required to answer questions subject to paragraph (g) of subdivision one of Civil Service Law § 209-A (Improper employer practices)section two hundred nine-a of the civil service law, or prior to an employment disciplinary hearing regarding the potential misconduct of such employee. * NB Effective July 8, 2025
Source:
Section 135 — New York state department of corrections and community supervision body-worn cameras program, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/COR/135 (updated May 16, 2025; accessed Jun. 21, 2025).
