When harm happens, time is not neutral. A preservation of evidence request is about slowing things down long enough for truth to have a chance. It is about knowing there are steps you can take before the narritives get rewritten.

Preservation of Evidence

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template

This template can be used as a formal notice to tell businesses and agencies

Do not delete
Do not destroy
Do not release evidence solely to the police

One of the most urgent ways we honor Black lives today is by preserving evidence after incidents of police violence. When a loved one is harmed or killed in an officer-involved incident, every photo, video, message, or document can be crucial to ensure accountability and justice. But evidence can disappear fast if it’s not formally requested. That’s why sending a preservation of evidence letter matters. It’s a clear, official notice that nothing related to the incident should be altered, destroyed, or discarded—and it’s recognized by courts as legally important.

Why preserving evidence matters

Preservation isn’t just a legal step. It’s a moral and historical one. Just as our ancestors documented Black lives to ensure history remembered them, preserving evidence today protects truth for the people impacted and for our communities. It allows families, advocates, journalists, and policymakers to act from facts, not speculation. It strengthens transparency and shields the village, our village (you and your loved ones).

1M4 has made this easier with a template letter created for you and your community, designed to be straightforward and actionable. It specifies the incident, the impacted person, and all the evidence that should be preserved—from videos and photos to communications with law enforcement or witnesses. Simply add your specific details in the appropriate sections and provide the completed document to leadership at the local business near the incident location.

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