U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Technology Advantage: Using Shoulder Mounted Cameras Within a Detention Facility

NCJ Number
243601
Author(s)
Timothy L. Smith
Date Published
2013
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This publication provides information on detention facilities' use of shoulder mounted cameras.
Abstract
Findings show that both the simplicity and the operational capabilities of these body cameras are hugely beneficial when dealing with highly volatile situations. Defending an organization from costly claims and lawsuits is considerably easier when video technology exists to corroborate the documentation for evidence management. This article describes how the detention center in Charleston County, SC, equipped its special operations tactical teams with shoulder-mounted video cameras that record situations as they unfold. Partner team members each wear a camera which provides two documented views of every incident. The recordings have proven to be very helpful in after-action reviews by leadership and for evidentiary purposes. A case study of a recent incident is included. 3 figures