Audit Trails, Axon & Digital Metadata

JM Audits Request Template

Audit Trails, Axon & Digital Metadata

Request the logs that show who created, accessed, changed, shared, redacted, exported, categorized, or deleted a digital record.

Before sending: Name the system when you know it—such as Axon Evidence, CAD, records management, email, cloud storage, or a public-records portal—and identify the item or evidence ID.

Copy-and-paste request

Subject: Public Records Request – System Audit Trail and Metadata

Hello,

This is a public records request for audit-trail and metadata records concerning:

System or platform: [AXON EVIDENCE / CAD / RMS / EMAIL / CLOUD STORAGE / OTHER]
Record, evidence ID, case number, user, device, or file: [IDENTIFIER]
Date range: [START DATE AND TIME] through [END DATE AND TIME]

Please provide all maintained system-generated records showing activity involving the identified item, including:

1. Complete item, evidence, user, and device audit trails.
2. Creation, capture, upload, ingest, import, assignment, categorization, tagging, access, viewing, playback, download, export, copy, share, link creation, transfer, redaction, replacement, retention, deletion, restoration, and purge events.
3. The date and time of each event; user, account, device, role, or identifier associated with it; action taken; source and destination; and any reason, note, or status recorded by the system.
4. File metadata including maintained filename, file type, size, duration, hash value, capture time, upload time, time-zone information, device serial or ID, evidence ID, case association, and retention category.
5. Version history, redaction-project history, processing history, disclosure/share history, access-control changes, and chain-of-custody information.
6. Any export, report, screenshot, or administrative-page view that the system can generate for these records.

Please provide the records as a native electronic export, CSV, spreadsheet, PDF system report, or other existing export format. If the platform can export an audit report directly, please use that function rather than manually retyping the entries.

If the agency contends that any requested log does not exist or is not maintained, please state that in writing and identify the system searched and the office or custodian responsible for it. If any portion is withheld, identify the specific legal authority and produce all segregable non-exempt information.

If estimated charges will exceed $[AMOUNT], provide an itemized estimate before beginning chargeable work. Please confirm receipt and provide the tracking number.

Thank you,

[NAME]
[EMAIL]
[OPTIONAL PHONE]

Download .txt

Need help using this request? Read the step-by-step public-records guide →

Use it effectively

Replace every bracketed field before sending.
Keep the request focused by identifying a date range, person, incident, case number, or system.
Ask for records electronically and in their existing or native format when available.
Keep the request, confirmation, estimate, payment record, and production together.

Not legal advice: These sample requests are provided for educational and informational purposes and reflect request language used by JM Audits. They are not legal advice, do not create an attorney-client relationship, and may need to be adapted for your jurisdiction and circumstances.