Body-worn cameras were introduced as part of a nationwide push to improve accountability in policing. They were promoted as a tool that could provide clear answers after disputed encounters, especially when force was used. The hope was simple: if cameras recorded interactions between officers and civilians, then disputes about what happened could be settled by reviewing the footage.

The reality has been more complicated. Body camera programs have expanded rapidly, but the rules about who controls the recordings and when the public can see them vary widely. In many cases, families and communities are left waiting for answers while departments delay or restrict access. This problem is especially pressing in fatal police shootings, where families are desperate for information about the final

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