By Lustitia Aequalis

On February 19, 2025, William McNeil Jr.—a 24-year-old Black college student—was pulled over in Jacksonville, Florida. Officers claimed his headlights weren’t on during bad weather. What happened next wasn’t captured by police bodycams.

But McNeil’s dash-mounted cellphone was recording.

The footage shows officers smashing his window, hitting him in the head, dragging him out of the car, and punching him repeatedly. The police report later summarized the incident in one vague sentence: “Physical force was applied.”

It wasn’t until McNeil’s video went viral that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office opened an internal investigation. Without that recording, there would have been no public pressure, no accountability, and no proof of the brutality.

🎥 What the Dashcam Caught That Bodycams Didn’t

The official bodycam footage didn’t show the punches. The angle was too tight. The officer was too close. The video cut off key moments.

McNeil’s phone, mounted on the dashboard, offered a wider view.

The clip shows him keeping his hands visible and calmly asking why he was stopped. Seconds later, his window was broken. Officers punched him in the head and pulled him from the car. According to Ben Crump, one of McNeil’s attorneys, the video gave America “a firsthand view of what driving while Black is in America.”

That recording may be the only reason McNeil’s injuries—a brain injury, broken tooth, and stitches—weren’t buried under official silence.

📜 You Have the Right to Record Police. Use It.

Recording public officials, including police, is a constitutional right. But that right works best when you also understand the boundaries.

Here’s what to know:

• It’s legal to record police in public in all 50 states.

• Audio recording rules vary by state. Florida is a one-party consent state, meaning McNeil’s recording was legal. Know your local law.

• Don’t interfere. Laws like Louisiana’s new 25-foot restriction aim to limit public oversight. Maintain space. Be clear. Be calm.
  

Mounted recording—dashcams or fixed phone setups—offers the safest approach. It reduces sudden movements, doesn’t require unlocking your phone, and minimizes escalation.

📉 Why Bodycams Aren’t a Backup Plan

Police bodycams can miss more than they show:

• Field of view is limited. Close contact renders them nearly useless.

• Officers control them. They decide when to turn them on.

• Agencies control access. Departments often delay or redact footage.

In McNeil’s case, the bodycams failed to capture the violence. According to AP News, only his personal video showed what actually occurred.

This follows a pattern. Think of Philando Castile in 2016, livestreamed by his partner. Or George Floyd, whose murder was documented by a bystander’s phone—not a badge.

As Rod Brunson, a criminology professor at the University of Maryland, put it: “People can’t deny what they see.”

🔒 The Footage That Doesn’t Get Deleted

McNeil’s video changed the trajectory of his case. But not everyone gets the chance to upload their story. Devices get seized. Footage disappears. And the official narrative takes over.

That’s why the Witness App exists:

• Starts recording instantly—even from a locked screen

• Auto-uploads encrypted video to the cloud

• Sends real-time alerts to your emergency contacts

• Footage is anonymized—protecting you even if your phone is taken

When bodycams go dark, when reports erase harm, your phone might be the only witness left.

By Lustitia Aequalis

For decades, police misconduct in California lived behind locked filing cabinets, shielded by secrecy laws and agency stonewalling. But as of August 2025, thousands of those records—ranging from fatal use-of-force cases to officers caught lying on duty—are now publicly searchable.

The Police Records Access Project, a collaboration between journalists, legal advocates, and data scientists, has released a free online database containing nearly 12,000 misconduct files from across California’s 700+ law enforcement agencies. The platform gives everyday people, researchers, attorneys, and families access to internal investigations, complaints, and disciplinary records that used to be almost impossible to obtain.

This isn’t just a research tool. It’s a tactical shift in public oversight—and a blueprint for other states to follow.

🔎 What’s in the Database?

The newly released records span years of incidents. Users can search by keyword, officer name, department, or case type.

The records include:

• Use-of-force reports and internal investigations

• Findings of dishonesty, discrimination, and sexual misconduct

• Wrongful arrests or illegal searches

• Officer-involved shootings

You won’t need an account. There’s no paywall. And there’s no approval process. This is public information.

The project, built by UC Berkeley and Stanford’s data journalism teams, represents a years-long effort involving over 3,500 records requests, thousands of redacted documents, and court battles against agencies that refused to release files—even after new laws made them public.

⚖️ A Legal Victory Built on Hard-Fought Transparency

In 2018, California passed SB 1421, known as the “Right to Know” Act, which opened up records involving shootings, serious use of force, dishonesty, and sexual assault. In 2021, the law was expanded to include racial discrimination, wrongful arrests, and other misconduct.

But laws on paper aren’t enough. As journalist Lisa Pickoff-White told The Independent, enforcement has been another story. Agencies slow-walked requests, denied access, or claimed exemptions. Others simply destroyed records.

That’s why this centralized, searchable database matters. It breaks down the barriers between legal rights and real access.

“This kind of data is necessary for even basic forms of independent oversight,” said data scientist Tarak Shah, who helped lead the project.

🛠️ How to Use the Database

The database is designed for real-world action. Here’s what you can do with it:

• Search an officer’s name if you’re involved in a case

• Find patterns of misconduct within a department

• Download reports to use in court filings, complaints, or FOIA requests

• Search key terms like “taser,” “canine,” or “wrongful arrest”

• Filter by agency to see how different departments handle discipline
  

Records include investigative documents, internal memos, complaint summaries, and interview transcripts. Some documents are redacted, but the level of detail is still powerful. And new records are added regularly.

🧠 Who This Tool Is For

• Victims and Families: According to Cephus Johnson—uncle of Oscar Grant, who was killed by BART police in 2009—this tool allows families to access long-denied truths without gatekeeping. But he cautions: the content can be traumatic. “You’re gonna hear things you can’t believe these officers would do,” he told KQED. Support from loved ones matters when reviewing these records.

• Attorneys: Defense lawyers can now verify officer credibility and use documented misconduct to challenge testimony or argue for dismissal. “To me, the primary use is to impeach officers on the stand,” said Jumana Musa of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

• Journalists: This database has already powered major investigative stories: 73 dog bites in Richmond, sexual coercion by a Sutter County deputy, and a list of 70 problem deputies in Los Angeles. Transparency drives policy. Without records, accountability stalls.

• Researchers and Advocates: Policy teams can analyze data across agencies to identify systemic patterns, influence legislation, or call out departments avoiding reform.
  

By Lustitia Aequalis

In California this summer, more people are hitting the streets—from anti-deportation rallies to pro-Palestine marches to campus walkouts. But as the movement grows, so does the surveillance. Protesters are being monitored, recorded, kettled, and sometimes charged just for showing up.

First Amendment protections still exist. But they don’t enforce themselves.

To stay safe, effective, and legally protected, you need more than passion. You need preparation.

🧾 Where Your Rights Begin—and Where They Don’t

You have the right to protest peacefully. That’s rooted in the First Amendment and backed by California’s state constitution. But those rights depend on where you are, how you act, and what law enforcement decides to enforce in the moment.

Your rights are strongest in:

• Public parks, streets, and sidewalks

• Open government property like courthouses or city halls

You have less protection on:

• Private property (unless the owner allows it)

• Government buildings not open to the public

• Campuses or schools, which are “limited public forums” with narrower protections

If you're asked to move or disperse, and don’t comply, officers can charge you with unlawful assembly—even if the protest was peaceful.

According to KQED, police can only issue a lawful dispersal order if there’s a clear and present threat to safety, and they must provide time, exits, and a warning. In practice, they often don’t.

That’s why your safety plan matters just as much as your message.

🛠️ What to Bring and What to Leave

Protesting safely isn’t just about what you say—it’s about what you carry, how you communicate, and whether you’re prepared for the worst.

Smart things to bring:

• A Sharpie to write legal aid numbers on your arm

• Water, snacks, and a backup phone charger

• A basic first-aid kit or eye flush for tear gas

• Cash, not cards—digital trails can be tracked

• A mask, sunglasses, or hat to reduce facial recognition risk

Leave these at home if possible:

• Unencrypted phones (or use airplane mode and turn off biometrics)

• IDs, if you’re not legally required to carry one

• Anything irreplaceable—if arrested, it could be seized or damaged

The team at WIRED compiled a clear gear list for protest readiness. And attorneys interviewed by The Intercept stressed the importance of disabling fingerprint or facial unlock features before heading out.

🎥 Filming Police? Know the Law Before You Hit Record

You have a legal right to film the police in public spaces—as long as you don’t interfere. This includes sidewalks, parks, streets, and outside government buildings. Courts across the country have upheld that right.

But laws vary when it comes to audio recording, especially in states with two-party consent. While California is a two-party consent state, courts have made exceptions when the person being recorded is a public official performing public duties.

Your best protection? Be clear, be visible, and don’t try to hide the fact that you’re recording.

If an officer tells you to stop filming:

• You are not required to comply unless you're obstructing

• They may not delete your footage or demand your password without a warrant

• If arrested, do not consent to any search of your phone or belongings
  

🧠 If You’re Undocumented or Vulnerable, Take Extra Steps

The First Amendment applies to non-citizens. But that doesn’t mean you’re safe from ICE.

• Do not bring fake IDs. Carry your real documents only if needed.

• Make a safety plan ahead of time. Share your location and legal contacts with someone you trust.

• Know that if you’re arrested, your immigration status may be checked—especially under current federal policy.

Attorney Carl Takei, speaking to KQED, warned that simply being present at a protest can trigger risks for undocumented attendees. If you're not a citizen, know the consequences before deciding to attend.

🧷 If Arrested: Say Nothing, Sign Nothing, Consent to Nothing

If detained or arrested:

• Ask if you’re free to go. If not, say: “I’m exercising my right to remain silent.”

• Ask for a lawyer. Don’t answer questions.

• Do not unlock your phone or give a password.

• Do not sign anything.

• If booked, you’re entitled to one local phone call—if calling an attorney, police cannot legally listen in.

These reminders are backed by both civil rights attorneys and protest-specific legal groups like the Center for Protest Law and Litigation.

🧭 Protest Is Power—But Only If You Prepare

Peaceful protest is a protected right. But it’s not risk-free. Knowing the law, preparing ahead of time, and protecting your data and identity can make the difference between a powerful civic act and an avoidable legal nightmare.

And when the truth gets buried in police reports or distorted by surveillance footage, your own record might be the only one that counts.

📲 Your Phone Can Protect More Than Just You

If you’re filming a protest—or being filmed—the Witness App gives you an extra layer of legal protection:

• Instant recording with a locked-screen shortcut

• Automatic backup to the cloud—footage can’t be deleted, even if your phone is

• Anonymized uploads to protect your identity

• Real-time alerts to your chosen emergency contacts

Don’t wait until the footage is gone or the story gets rewritten.

Let your evidence speak clearly, even if you’re silenced.

By Lustitia Aequalis

In gentrifying neighborhoods across Illinois, renters are dealing with more than rising rents. They're facing landlords who let themselves in without notice, delay repairs, or retaliate when tenants speak up. The law is supposed to keep your home safe—not just from intruders, but from exploitation.

And in 2025, the law got stronger.

🚪 Entry Without Warning? Know When It's Legal

Many tenants still don’t know that even though landlords own the building, they don’t own your right to privacy.

Here’s how it breaks down under Illinois law:

• Emergencies: If there’s a fire, leak, or other urgent danger, landlords can enter immediately—even without notice.

• Non-Emergency Visits: For things like inspections, repairs, or lender walkthroughs, they must give 48 hours’ written notice.

• Timing Matters: Entry must be during “reasonable” hours unless otherwise agreed to. Showing up late at night or too early? That’s not legal access.

If your landlord enters without notice or does it repeatedly to intimidate or monitor you, that may count as harassment or retaliation—especially if you’ve filed complaints.

🔗 Source: Injustice Watch

⚖️ The New Retaliation Law in Illinois

Illinois now has one of the strongest tenant protection laws in the country. The Landlord Retaliation Act, effective January 1, 2025, replaced the old 1963 law with a broader, enforceable standard.

Here’s what it changed:

• Landlords cannot retaliate by raising rent, refusing to renew, decreasing services, or filing for eviction after you:

  • Report a code violation

  • Request repairs

  • Join a tenants’ group

  • Speak to the media about your housing conditions

• One-year presumption: If the retaliation happens within 12 months of your complaint, the law assumes it’s retaliatory—unless the landlord proves otherwise.

• Tenants can sue and recover:

  • Up to 3 months’ rent or triple damages (whichever is greater)

  • Legal fees

  • Up to $2,000 in punitive damages

This law recognizes that tenant safety isn’t just physical—it’s legal. Without the right to complain safely, renters can’t protect their health or homes.

🔗 Source: Clark Hill

📸 Build a Record You Can Stand On

In court, testimony helps—but evidence wins.

Housing attorney Michelle Gilbert puts it plainly: judges want to see a paper trail. Here’s how to build one:

• Text everything. Always follow up conversations with written messages. Screenshots count.

• Document access. Note date, time, and reason every time your landlord enters—or tries to.

• Save all notices. Keep photos of 48-hour notices, rent increases, or termination letters.

• Get witness support. Neighbors, repair workers, or building staff can confirm patterns of behavior.

Courts won’t pull up your texts or photos for you. Print them. Organize them. Make sure you can present them when needed.

🛡️ Legal Exit Routes (and Their Costs)

Illinois law allows tenants to terminate a lease if a landlord’s behavior becomes unreasonable or intrusive.

But that’s often not a clean exit. You still have to:

• Find a new unit

• Pay for moving and credit checks

• Risk your next landlord seeing an eviction case—even if you won it
  

If you’re not sure whether to stay, fight, or walk away, contact legal aid or a tenants' union first. They can help you assess your rights before you risk your housing.

🔗 Source: Injustice Watch

 By Lustitia Aequalis

When Jabari Peoples was shot in the back by a Homewood police officer, his family asked one thing: show us the video.

He was 18, a recent high school graduate with plans to study criminal justice. On June 23, he was sitting in a parked car outside a soccer complex when an officer approached. Minutes later, Jabari was dying. Police say he grabbed a gun. His family says he didn’t. But there’s body-camera footage—footage that could clarify what happened. And still, nearly two months later, it hasn’t been fully released.

Why? Because in Alabama, a 2023 law meant to improve access to police body-camera footage contains a legal loophole wide enough to bury the truth.

🎥 A Law Meant for Transparency, Twisted by Loopholes

Alabama Act 2023-507 was supposed to create a clear path for families to view body-camera recordings when a loved one is harmed or killed by police. It allows footage to be requested by a “personal representative,” like a parent or attorney.

But the law also gives law enforcement broad power to deny that request if disclosure “would affect an ongoing investigation or prosecution.” And that’s exactly the exemption the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) cited when it refused the Peoples family access to the full video for weeks, according to AP News.

When they finally did get a viewing, the clip was brief. Three of the four minutes were reportedly dead space. The actual confrontation was edited, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who noted that key context and angles were left out.

District Attorney Danny Carr ultimately declined to file charges, calling the shooting “justified.” But Jabari’s family and legal team say the investigation never included full transparency.

⚖️ What the Law Says—And What It Doesn’t

Here’s how Alabama Act 2023-507 works—and why it’s failing the very people it was supposed to help:

• What it allows: Families of people involved in a police encounter can formally request to view body-camera footage.

• What it protects: Law enforcement can decline if they believe sharing the video would interfere with an active investigation or prosecution.

• What it doesn’t do: Set clear timelines for release, define “relevance,” or require full and unedited access.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, who authored the bill, has acknowledged its flaws and introduced amendments to close the gap—including a six-month deadline for footage disclosure. So far, none have passed. As reported by the Washington Post, she worked with police unions to narrow the bill’s scope just to get it passed.

Meanwhile, families like the Peoples are left in the dark.

🧩 When Legal Doesn’t Mean Just

Across the country, body-camera footage was pitched as a check on power. A window into the truth. But without firm legal standards, police departments have too much discretion—and too little accountability.

• In Colorado, a judge recently ordered footage released despite law enforcement objections.

• In California, a state appeals court ruled that ongoing investigations weren’t a valid reason to deny footage.

• But in Alabama, and in many other states, “transparency” still hinges on the willingness of police to cooperate.

Jabari’s case isn’t isolated. In 2024, the family of Phillip Reeder waited nearly a year to access footage of his fatal encounter with Irondale police. And unless legal reform catches up, more families will face the same delay tactics cloaked in legal language.

🔒 Trust Requires Truth—And Timelines

The refusal to release body-cam footage doesn’t just delay closure. It deepens community distrust. As Jabari’s sister, Angel Smith, said after viewing the short video: “My brother was afraid. He was running for his life.”

The law was written with a door. But too many departments are using that door to block grieving families instead of opening it.

📱 How the Witness App Protects What the Law Delays

When your rights depend on someone else’s timeline, you need a tool that works in real time.

The Witness App helps you do what the system often won’t: capture, store, and protect critical footage—on your terms. It activates instantly, backs up to the cloud, and time-stamps your recording. No edits. No excuses. No months of waiting while agencies “review” what should be public.

In places where body-camera footage can be withheld, your own recording may be the only full account. Don’t leave the truth in someone else’s hands.

Download the Witness App. Practice using it. Protect yourself before they claim there’s nothing to show.