Question
I have been trying to get the below questions from a sheriff station, but unfortunately they have given me the runaround. I was hoping your agency could assist me with my inquiries.
How do I request surveillance tape that was shot in the booking cell of the West Hollywood Sheriff Station?
How long do the surveillance tapes for a booking cell stay on file before they are deleted?
Answer
You can submit a written request under the California Public Records Act (PRA) to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station for a copy of the surveillance tape from a particular date. Here is a link to a template of a sample letter on CFAC’s website: http://firstamendmentcoalition.org/cpra-primer/sample-cpra-request-letter/
It is not clear how long the station has to maintain the tape. However, in your letter you should note that, because you have put the station on notice that you believe you are entitled to a copy of the tape under California law, the station should make sure it preserves, and does not destroy or tape over, a copy of the tape from the date in question.
Asked & Answered posts should not be relied on as legal advice, and FAC makes no guarantees about their completeness or accuracy. All posts carry a date of publication that readers should take note of in assessing their usefulness, given that laws and interpretations of them may change over time. Posts predating Jan. 1, 2023, that discuss the California Public Records Act may contain statute numbers no longer in use. Please see this page for a table showing how the California Public Records Act has been renumbered.