NCJ Number
248280
Date Published
2014
Length
92 pages
Annotation
Although touting the potential benefits of body-worn cameras for police officers when they are correctly implemented, this paper proposes an incremental approach that ensures all issues in their deployment have been carefully considered and tested.
Abstract
Among the issues to be addressed in this incremental approach are police-community relationships, the privacy of persons captured on the cameras, the accessibility and security of resulting videotapes, and internal procedural justice for law enforcement officers. The recommended incremental approach involves the testing of the cameras' operation and uses in pilot programs and soliciting the opinions and recommendations of officers and community members involved in the pilot programs. Law enforcement agencies considering the use of body-worn cameras are also cautioned that because the technology is so new, there is not yet a large body of research regarding the effects of body-worn cameras on policing. Additional research and field experience are needed before the full impact of body-worn cameras can be understood and addressed in policies and procedures that govern their use. Consequently, this report advises that the Police Executive Research Forum's recommendations on the use of body-worn cameras may evolve as additional evidence is collected. Detailed discussions in this report focus on the potential impact of body-worn cameras on privacy, police-community relationships, officer concerns, the management of expectations, and financial considerations. This is followed by general recommendations, and recommendations for recording protocols, downloading ad storing policies, recorded data access and review, training policies, and policy and program evaluation. Appended policy recommendations matrix and additional lessons learned