# Justice Manual § 9-7.200: Video Surveillance—Closed Circuit Television—Department of Justice Approval Required When There Is A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.200

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-7.200
- **Heading:** Video Surveillance—Closed Circuit Television—Department of Justice Approval Required When There Is A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-7.000 - Electronic Surveillance / Justice Manual § 9-7.200

## Text

Pursuant to Department of Justice Order No. 985-82, dated August 6, 1982, certain officials of the Criminal Division have been delegated authority to review requests to use video surveillance for law enforcement purposes when there is a constitutionally protected expectation of privacy requiring judicial authorization. This authority was delegated to the Assistant Attorney General, any Deputy Assistant Attorney General, and the Director and Associate Directors of the Office of Enforcement Operations.

When court authorization for video surveillance is deemed necessary, it should be obtained by way of an application and order predicated on Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(b) and the All Writs Act (28 U.S.C. § 1651). The application and order should be based on an affidavit that establishes probable cause to believe that evidence of a Federal crime will be obtained by the surveillance. In addition, the affidavit should comply with certain provisions of the Federal electronic surveillance statutes.

Department policy requires that the video surveillance application and order be filed separately from, and not incorporated in, an application and order for electronic surveillance pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2518. When appropriate, the same affidavit may be submitted in support of both applications/orders.

[updated January 2020]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-7.010 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.100 Authorization of Applications for Wire, Oral, and Electronic Interception Orders—Overview and History of Legislation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.110 Format for the Authorization Request](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.110.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.111 Roving Interception](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.111.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.112 Emergency Interception](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.112.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.200 Video Surveillance—Closed Circuit Television—Department of Justice Approval Required When There Is A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.250 Use and Unsealing of Title III Affidavits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.250.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.301 Consensual Monitoring—General Use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.301.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.302 Consensual Monitoring—Procedures for Lawful, Warrantless Monitoring of Oral Communications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.302.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.400 Defendant Motion or Discovery Request for Disclosure of Defendant Overhearings and Attorney Overhearings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.400.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-7.500 Prior Consultation with the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division (CCIPS) for Applications for Pen Register and Trap and Trace Orders Capable of Collecting Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.500.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-7.200. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.