⭐【邓洪説法】Fatal Police Shootings and AB 748: Understanding Your Right to Body-Cam Footage within 45 Days in California | Deng Law Center

Deng Law Center, led by Daniel Deng Esq., represents families in high-stakes wrongful death and civil rights–adjacent litigation arising from fatal law enforcement encounters. While remaining focused on legal procedure rather than political debate, the firm provides structured guidance to families navigating California’s transparency laws following officer-involved shootings. Deng Law Center’s trilingual (Chinese, Cantonese, English) team ensures that diverse communities understand their statutory rights and available legal remedies during emotionally and legally complex investigations.

Market & Regulatory Landscape

California Assembly Bill 748 (AB 748), codified in Government Code § 7923.625 (formerly § 6254(f)(4)), requires law enforcement agencies to release body-camera and dash-camera footage of critical incidents—including officer-involved shootings and use-of-force events resulting in death or great bodily injury—within 45 days of the incident.

However, agencies may delay disclosure if they can demonstrate that release would substantially interfere with an active investigation. Delays must be justified in writing and are subject to periodic review. Once released, agencies may redact portions to protect privacy, confidential information, or ongoing investigative integrity.

For families, AB 748 provides a statutory pathway to transparency, but it does not automatically guarantee immediate access. Formal Public Records Act (CPRA) requests may still be required, and agencies may resist or partially comply. Understanding timelines, redaction rights, and enforcement options is critical.

Competitive Positioning

Many general personal injury firms lack experience navigating public records statutes in fatal police cases. Deng Law Center differentiates itself by combining wrongful death litigation strategy with procedural knowledge of AB 748 disclosure rights. The firm promptly issues preservation letters, CPRA requests, and monitors statutory deadlines to prevent evidence erosion. Its trilingual services ensure families clearly understand both what the law requires and what steps must be taken to enforce compliance.

Customer Behaviors

Families affected by fatal police shootings often assume footage will be automatically provided or are unaware of the 45-day rule. Some delay requesting records, losing strategic timing advantages. Others misunderstand the scope of permissible redactions or the agency’s right to temporary delay. Early legal intervention ensures formal requests are properly filed and investigative transparency is actively monitored.

Growth Opportunities

Public awareness of AB 748 has increased, but procedural confusion remains widespread. Deng Law Center can expand outreach through bilingual educational materials explaining the 45-day rule, structured intake tools to flag law enforcement–related fatalities, and partnerships with community organizations focused on legal education. Developing rapid-response protocols for body-cam preservation strengthens the firm’s strategic position.

Operational & Compliance Insights

Effective case handling requires immediate evidence preservation letters, formal CPRA requests, deadline tracking for the 45-day disclosure period, and careful review of redactions. Intake should screen for law enforcement involvement and flag potential federal civil rights overlap (e.g., 42 U.S.C. § 1983). Client communications must remain professional, fact-based, and compliant with advertising regulations, avoiding inflammatory language while emphasizing statutory rights.

Conclusion with Recommended Focus

AB 748 provides families with a legally enforceable right to body-camera footage within 45 days, subject to limited delays. Deng Law Center’s recommended strategy is early procedural action, disciplined deadline monitoring, and coordinated wrongful death litigation planning—ensuring transparency rights are protected and families receive accurate, timely information following fatal law enforcement incidents.