Act 22 Audio / Video Requests

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 are 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 about 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:

• ACT 22 Audio or Video Informational Sheet (PDF)
• ACT 22 Audio or Video Request Form (PDF)

All completed request forms can be hand delivered, sent by certified mail, or via email to the address. Additionally, a copy of all requests must be sent via email to the North Versailles Township Right-To-Know officer.

Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office
Act 22-Video/Audio Request
Address: 1444 Hillsdale Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216
Office Phone: 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 North Versailles Police Department has agreed with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office to review and process all Act 22 requests. By ACT 22, the District Attorney’s Office has established a fee structure for granted audio or video recordings.

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 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.