Research Paper Topic Selection with Research Questions Assignment
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RESEARCH PAPER
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Research Paper: Topic Selection with Research Questions Assignment
Caitlyn C. Blakely
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
Author Note
Caitlyn C. Blakely
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Caitlyn C. Blakely.
Email: ccblakely@liberty.edu
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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Police Body-Worn Cameras in Enhancing Transparency
and Accountability
The topic explores the core of modern law enforcement operations. The way that police
actions are documented and examined has changed dramatically since the introduction of police
body cameras (BWCs). These tools are intended to improve accountability and transparency by
providing an unbiased perspective of police-community interactions. However, the degree to
which BWCs succeed in achieving these goals is still up for discussion and investigation, making
it an interesting area of research.
The adoption of BWCs represents a change in policy as well as a technological
achievement. Their deployment touches on important areas of law enforcement and raises
concerns about balancing individual rights and efficient police (Lum, 2019). Transparency is a
key policy concern pertaining to BWCs. These gadgets record police encounters in unaltered
audio and visual form, which is very helpful in situations where the behavior of law enforcement
officials is questioned. To foster public confidence and guarantee that police officers’ acts are
subject to review, this degree of openness is essential. BWCs are also viewed as instruments to
improve police accountability (Koen, Newell, & Roberts, 2020). The camera's existence may
affect the public’s and the officer’s behavior. It serves as a reminder that what you do is being
recorded, which could result in more measured and formal relationships. This accountability
viewpoint is not without its difficulties, though. There is a lot of discussion and study about the
efficacy of BWCs in changing behavior or lowering instances of misconduct and the use of
force.
Deploying police body-worn cameras (BWCs) raises privacy concerns and sparks
discussions about people’s rights during recorded interactions. Although BWCs provide insight
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into police operations, they also record scenes with citizens, often in extremely delicate
circumstances. It is difficult and challenging to balance upholding law enforcement’s
transparency and protecting people’s right to privacy (Nix, Todak, & Tregle, 2020). The
difficulty facing law enforcement organizations is creating complex guidelines that specify when
and when cameras should be used. These regulations need to consider several scenarios, from
ordinary traffic stops to circumstances in private homes with a naturally higher expectation of
privacy. The standards should also include data storage and access, guaranteeing that video is
safe and managed in a way that preserves the privacy of individuals being recorded (Gaub &
White, 2020). Key issues in the conversation about BWCs and privacy include how long video
should be kept, who may see it, and when it can be shared.
The importance of BWC footage in court cases emphasizes the necessity for strong
policy frameworks even more. Its integrity and admissibility are crucial since this video becomes
a crucial piece of evidence in trials and investigations (Lawshe, 2021). Clear and uniform rules
governing the use of BWC footage in court are necessary for legal systems. These rules should
cover the chain of custody for video to guarantee that it is untainted and gives a true account of
what happened. The rights of everybody involved in the legal process must be safeguarded by a
clear, uniform procedure for submitting BWC films as evidence. Furthermore, ignoring how this
footage can affect juries’ perceptions is impossible. The presentation of BWC film in courtrooms
can greatly impact trial results; therefore, its usage must be handled carefully and ethically
(Crow & Smykla, 2019). Establishing and improving these principles requires cooperation
between law enforcement and judicial authorities. This will ensure that BWCs fulfill their
intended role of advancing justice and accountability while protecting the fundamental rights to
privacy and a fair trial.
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Police body-worn cameras (BWCs) potential to revolutionize policing methods requires a
thorough grasp of these devices. Through a detailed analysis of BWCs’ impact on accountability,
openness, and public confidence, scholars and policymakers can obtain important insights into
how these instruments can potentially transform law enforcement. Beyond just documenting
incidents, BWCs significantly impact the dynamics of police-citizen interactions and can modify
behavior on both sides. This feature of BWCs is essential for influencing future policing
practices by influencing training plans, directing policy decisions, and improving operational
processes. Furthermore, this topic’s significance extends beyond law enforcement, involving
legislators, legal experts, and the general public. Its position at the pivotal nexus of technology,
law, ethics, and social justice necessitates carefully considering its ramifications. Due to its
intricacy, studying BWCs is both difficult and crucial since it provides a prism through which to
examine and comprehend the delicate balance that must be struck between the preservation of
civil liberties and efficient law enforcement.
Research Questions
1.
How do police body-worn cameras affect the transparency of law enforcement
operations?
2.
What impact do body-worn cameras have on police accountability and public trust?
3.
Are there any significant changes in police behavior or public compliance in interactions
recorded by body-worn cameras?
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References
Crow, M. S., & Smykla, J. O. (2019). Police Body-Worn Cameras: Research Developments on
an Emerging Technology. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 30(6), 865-883.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0734016819854789
Gaub, J. E., & White, M. D. (2020). Open to Interpretation: Confronting the Challenges of
Understanding the Current State of Body-Worn Camera Research. American Journal of
Criminal Justice, 45(1), 67-84.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12103-020-
09518-4
Koen, M. C., Newell, B. C., & Roberts, M. R. (2020). Body-worn cameras: Technological
frames and project abandonment. Journal of Criminal Justice, 70, 101773.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2020.101773
Lawshe, N. (2021). Investigating the influence of institutional perviousness on the adoption of
body-worn cameras by United States police agencies. Policing and Society, 31(5), 545-
560.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1478601x.2021.1910507
Lum, C. (2019). Research on body‐worn cameras. Criminology & Public Policy, 18(1), 93-117.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1745-9133.12412
Nix, J., Todak, N., & Tregle, B. (2020). Understanding Body-Worn Camera Diffusion in U.S.
Policing. Crime & Delinquency, 66(6-7), 771-791.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1098611120917937