Body Cameras In Law Enforcement Essay

Today, companies are rushing to develop video devices to be used to track law enforcement activities and putting little thought into policies and procedures surrounding the implications of this action. This topic is a highly debated national issue as law enforcement across the United States work every day to protect and serve its citizens. Utilization of these video devices will not only impact police officers, but victims, courts, advocates, and allied professionals. Members of law enforcement should use body cameras to improve police accountability and transparency, but they should do so in a way that protects victim safety.
Accountability, by definition, is taking ownership of one’s actions. Officers operate with the expectation being they
They believe video devices could potentially increase the visibility of crime scenes and hold officers and crime suspects to a higher expectation. If a suspect has been informed he/she is being recorded, there is likely to be a decrease in resistance and confrontation. A majority of law enforcement also agree the devices would be useful. It will encourage fellow officers to step in and assist their peers if they feel the situation is getting out of hand. This new technology would also serve a resource for analyzing and improving department procedures and reporting. It would allow for a clear representation of the officer’s conduct and steps taken the resolve the
The expectations have been set high. Recent studies have shown, accountability will increase from police chiefs to officers. Local government administrators want to see transparency increased in the field and the use of force decreased. Video footage obtained from real scenarios should be used as a training resource to restructure current policies. Cameras do a great job at capturing and interpreting events. People, on the other hand, are more likely to misinterpret what is happening during a specific scenario and cameras do