Law Enforcement Instructions for Completing Body-Worn Camera Application

Legal Professionals Instructions for Completing Body-Worn Camera Application

BWC Program Overview

The Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Program Fund was established to provide financial assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies, the Attorney General’s Office, solicitors’ offices, and public defenders’ offices in the initial purchase, maintenance and replacement of body-worn cameras to include ongoing costs related to maintenance and storage recorded by body-worn cameras. This program is funded by the General Assembly. The SC Department of Public Safety’s Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs administers the state-appropriated Body-worn Camera Program. The South Carolina Public Safety Coordinating Council (SCPSCC), chaired by Sheriff (Ret.) Al Cannon, approves the distribution of the awards.  

• The total amount of body-worn camera funding received since FY-2016 is $25.40 million ($3.4 million from FY-2016, $2.4 million in FY-2017, FY-2018, FY-2019, FY-2020, FY-2021. $3.4 million in FY-2022 and $6.6 million in FY-2023). 
• A total of $24,992,009.88 million has been awarded since FY-2017 to provide assistance with the BWC program in South Carolina. 
• Applications may be submitted annually for new purchases and for the yearly maintenance/storage costs associated with the BWC Program.

Law Enforcement agencies have received some financial assistance from the state-appropriated BWC Program Funds in addition to the Attorney General’s Office, solicitors’ offices, and public defenders’ offices. A total of 267 qualifying entities have received funding from the BWC Program over the past several years.