CLEVELAND — The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department announced it has updated its Body Worn Camera policy. 

Effective immediately, the department will now release body camera footage of critical incidents within seven business days to align with nationwide best practices for releasing public information. 

The sheriff's department said it believes it'll help strengthen trust between residents and law enforcement. 

“The community deserves timely and accurate information, and the updated policy is a step toward strengthening trust between residents and deputies,” said Sheriff Harold Pretel in a release. “By streamlining our procedures, we ensure that information is consistent and available when it matters most.”

Pretel added the new policy will ensure important information is released in a timely manner. 

The sheriff's department noted that some requests for body camera footage, as well as other video and audio recordings, may need some more time for release based on volume and legal redactions. 

The full policy can be found here.