Police body-worn cameras (BWCs) have diffused rapidly in law enforcement in the United States and abroad over the last few years. The rapid diffusion of police BWCs has been driven, in part, by findings from a handful of early research studies which suggest cameras can produce a range of positive outcomes, including reductions in use of force and citizen complaints, enhanced prosecution outcomes, and increased perceptions of procedural justice among citizens.
However, more recent research demonstrates that positive outcomes are not always guaranteed. Several studies, for example, have documented no impact on use of force and citizen complaints. At the same time, many police departments have struggled with how to address key, controversial issues in BWC policy. Four decades of research demonstrate that good policy will translate to good practice, and good practice is a prerequisite for generating positive outcomes.
This webinar accomplishes two tasks. First, Dr. Michael White will review the latest research on BWCs to identify what we know, what we think we know, and what we do not know. Second, Dr. White will focus on the importance of good policy for achieving positive outcomes, and he will describe the results of an analysis of 129 BWC policies across a handful of controversial issues: activation, citizen notification, officer authority to review footage, and supervisor authority to review footage.