CAMERA VIEWS
Use of the police body camera is rising, with the majority of officers and public seeming to favor them. Today we look at this technology in law enforcement.
USE OF FORCE, COMPLAINTS DOWN
Results of studies of officers with body cameras in Rialto and Mesa, Ariz., suggest that use of cameras in social context may deter wrongdoing by both the locals and the police. Here are some results of the yearlong studies:
PUBLIC AND POLICE OPINIONS
A Pew Research Center survey shows that the public sees more benefits than police do from the use of body cameras. Percentage saying body cameras on officers would make ...
WORK IN PROGRESS
Policy study: The Brennan Center for Justice is monitoring the use of body cameras by 24 police departments. The study is tracking how different policies written by these departments are working. Some of the categories being monitored: Public access to videos Officers’ viewing of the video before making a report Amount of time the video can be kept by departments. Broader use: A recent survey of the largest police departments in the U.S. found that 95 percent either have committed to body cameras or have completed implementation. Only 18 percent of those agencies considered their camera programs fully operational.
LEGAL DEBATE
In general, the government cannot collect information on Americans without consent or legal justification. Some are concerned that body cameras invade a person’s right to privacy.