In this study, researchers investigated the impact of deploying body-worn cameras (BWCs) in a correctional setting.
This study, the first known randomized controlled trial (RCT) of body-worn cameras (BWCs) in a correctional jail setting, concluded that BWCs hold potential for improving the safety and security of jails and other correctional facilities and that they have evidentiary value. In partnership with the National Sheriffs Association and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the researchers (a) successfully executed the RCT with high fidelity, and (b) collected and analyzed numerous critical outcomes related to the implementation and impact of the LCADC’s BWC program. BWCs were associated with statistically significant reductions in response-to-resistance (RTR) incidents and resident injuries. Findings from deputy surveys do raise questions about the potential impact of BWCs on deputy-resident relations. Correctional BWCs come with notable costs, though many of the savings generated by cameras are difficult to quantify, and might be somewhat offset by reductions in incidents and injuries. The study also addresses one of the primary points of contention about implementing BWCs in correctional environments: that they are redundant to the existing network of stationary cameras. This study found limitations with each and that the two camera types complemented one another to overcome those limitations. Additional research is needed to further explore the benefits, challenges, and consequences of deploying BWCs in jail settings.
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