Genesee County jail restricts body cameras after inmate privacy breach

Sheriff’s office cites privacy concerns after unrelated inmate’s medical intake was recorded and released

FLINT, Mich. — I obtained a memorandum from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office showing a new policy that bans body-worn cameras and other recording devices inside the county jail following a privacy incident involving an inmate’s medical information.

The March 23, 2026 memo from Sheriff Christopher Swanson states that, effective immediately, officers must remove body cameras before entering the jail, including during intake and booking. The policy also prohibits cellular phones used for recording and other portable recording devices inside the facility.

The change follows an incident in September 2025 involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

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According to a statement from Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Major Jason Gould, an outside agency entered the jail with an arrested individual while wearing an active body camera. At the same time, a separate inmate was being processed by another agency, during which jail medical staff were asking detailed health-related questions.

Gould said the body camera worn by the first agency recorded the medical intake of the unrelated inmate. That footage was later released in March 2026 by the outside agency in response to a records request.

“As a result, private medical information of an inmate was recorded and released by an agency that did not arrest that individual,” Gould said.

In response, the sheriff’s office implemented the new restrictions to prevent similar incidents and protect inmate privacy.

The memo states that any outside agency seeking to record inside the jail for investigative or evidentiary purposes must first obtain approval from the sheriff’s office administration, with limits placed on the scope, location and duration of any recording.

Requests for existing surveillance footage from inside the jail must also go through the sheriff’s office and include specific details such as the date and time of the incident, names of those involved and a description of the requested footage.

Gould said the policy aligns with practices used by the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies.

The sheriff’s office noted that fixed surveillance cameras remain in operation throughout the jail in areas where inmates are housed.

The policy applies to all personnel and outside agencies entering the Genesee County Jail.