Denver officials have decided to save more jail video footage and for longer periods, buying more time for inmates who wait to file excessive-force complaints after their release, reports the Denver Post. The policy shift comes in response to complaints from critics, including the city’s independent monitor and attorneys for former inmates. The policy specifies what footage recorded by jail security cameras will be saved and how long the Denver Sheriff Department would save it, based on the content. For example, footage of any use of force now must be saved for five years.
In the past, video was stored for just 30 days, meaning footage of inmate abuses often had been deleted by the time an inmate filed a complaint. Those who have criticized the old retention policy said the changes are a step in the right direction for a department that has been rocked by excessive-force claims and an ongoing effort to reform it.