Looking at the Impact on Policing of Body Worn Cameras

• NCJ Number: 250500
• Author(s): Craig Uchida Ph.D.
• Date Published: January 2017
• Length: 1 page
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description; Case Study

Annotation

In this video with accompanying transcript, Dr. Craig Uchida of Justice & Security Strategies, Inc., discusses the importance of using research in examining the impact of body-worn cameras for police officers.

Abstract

He is leading a project, funded by the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ), that is evaluating the impact of the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement officers. The research goal is to determine whether these cameras improve police behavior in their relationships and interactions with community residents. The evaluation is in process and consists of extensive surveys of the officers who wear the cameras. There will be three waves of surveys of nearly 300 police officers. One wave will be conducted prior to implementation of the cameras. A second survey will be conducted 5 months into the implementation, and the final survey will be conducted 6 months after the second wave. The first survey indicated that the involved officers rank high in the professionalism, respect, and effectiveness with which they interact with community residents. The hope is that after wearing the cameras that the quality of their interactions with residents remains high or increases. If it remains the same, however, it will mean the cameras did nothing to improve officer interactions with residents.