CJ 406 1-2 Journal_ Pros and Cons of Body Cameras
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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Industrial Engineering
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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4
Uploaded by nmfest1986
Nicole Florence
CJ 406
August 24, 2023
1-2 Journal: Pros and Cons of Body Cameras
Pros of body cameras are as follows: body cameras are used to record interactions between
police officers and the public and store the video footage for later review or to be used as
evidence in criminal or civil proceedings. Body cameras also serve as a tool to hold police and
the public accountable (
New York City police department surveillance technology
). Body
cameras also reduce the number of officer complaints (Utecht, C. J. 2019).
Cons of body cameras are as follows: police officers have the discretion to choose when or when
not to activate body cameras. In instances when police officers choose to activate their body
camera, audio commentary can be misconstrued (i.e. yelling “stop resisting” to a person who is
cooperating). In addition, there is concern about further upgrades to body cameras such as adding
facial recognition technology. The concern with facial recognition is the efficacy, privacy and
racial bias (
New York City police department surveillance technology
).
As body cameras provide a perspective that police cruiser dash cameras, home surveillance
systems, and recorded police interrogations cannot. Body cameras have created a new way to
record accurately what transpires during a routine traffic stop, search and seizure etc and hold the
public and police accountable when necessary. The court system impacts how body cameras
recordings are used, serving as a tool providing another type of evidence to be utilized by courts.
Inturn allowing trial and appellate judges the opportunity to review the body camera footage and
use their discretion in how to rule in court proceedings instead of solely relying on testimony
(
Justice visualized: Courts and the body camera revolution
).
Cultural factors such as the acceptance or rejection of police and body worn cameras have a
significant impact. For example in communities where police are not seen as a threat, the
implementation of body cameras will more likely be accepted and perceived as a beneficial tool
to enhance the civility of police-citizen encounters and increase citizen attitudes of police
transparency and legitimacy (Braga et al.). As for communities that have a distrust within police,
body cameras are more likely to be rejected and seen as an invasion of their privacy. On a
political aspect the same applies. If a particular political party is pro law enforcement, they will
support the use of body cameras. A political party that is highly critical of law enforcement, they
will not support the use of body cameras.
References
Braga, A., Alper, O., Rodriguez, D., Sousa, W., & Coldren Jr, J. R. (n.d.).
The benefits of body-
worn camera
. Benefits of Body-Worn Cameras: New Findings from a Randomized Controlled
Trial at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department | Office of Justice Programs.
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/benefits-body-worn-cameras-new-findings-
randomized-controlled-trial#:~:text=Many%20community%20stakeholders%20and
%20criminal,of%20police%20transparency%20and%20legitimacy. \
https://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/issues/50/3/Articles/50-3_Fan.pdf
New York City police department surveillance technology
. Brennan Center for Justice. (n.d.).
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/new-york-city-police-department-
surveillance-technology
Utecht, C. J. (2019). Current Issues in Policing. Cognella, Inc..
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/82437-1B
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