Instructions:
Your response should either add to their summary or respectfully challenge their position based on information that you have found in a peer-reviewed journal article. Your reply post should consist of 300 to 400 words. The use of quotations is not allowed.
Points will be earned for proper grammar, spelling, organization, length, citations, content of the knowledge, reasoning, and APA citation and referencing. The use of quotations is not allowed.
Peer: James Omealey
Police officers’ use of body cameras has gained popularity because of growing public concerns about civilian rights and police accountability. The preservation of citizen rights and police accountability is upheld by the need for police officers to have body cameras (White, 2020; Schofield, K. 2021).
Because they capture encounters between law enforcement and the public in both visible and audible formats, body cameras are an essential tool for policing. Researchers like Ariel et al. (2014) stress that mandating body cams for police personnel can lower complaints from the public as well as police use of force. From my experience contact with police in which unjust treatment by law enforcement was unnecessary, hence the need for body cameras is valid in my perspective.
An advantage of body cameras is that they can protect citizens’ rights by making interactions with law enforcement more transparent. Officers wearing body cameras are likely to be more cautious and follow procedures and regulations, knowing their actions are being recorded (Michael & Angela, 2019). This method ensures the rights of citizens are not violated, adding protection. Therefore, this measure can directly contribute to enhancing police conduct during their contact with the public.
Police accountability can also be improved with the adoption of body-worn cameras. Technology serves as a witness that provides indisputable evidence in case of disputes or misconduct complaints. According to Jennings et al. (2014), the number of complaints from the public on police behavior dropped by 90% when body-worn cameras were introduced. This drop in complaints may be attributed to the cameras’ precise recording of interactions between civilians and law enforcement, which upholds officer accountability while fostering public confidence.
Body cameras are useful, and their benefits should not be discarded without considering any potential backlash. Research by Lum et al. (2019) states that the distribution of body-worn cameras may have unexpected benefits and that there may not be a significant drop in complaints or the use of force.
Furthermore, even with the effectiveness of body cameras, issues with selective recording and privacy concerns are still and must be responsibly managed (Gaub et al., 2016). Balancing these limitations with the benefits is an issue for future continuous discussion and improvement.
Lastly, mandating the use of body cameras by police officers can improve both police accountability and the defense of civilian rights. Still to uphold public trust, hold officers accountable, and protect citizens’ rights, potential challenges must be addressed effectively, and continuous improvement procedures must be proven.
References:
Ariel, B., Farrar, W. A., & Sutherland, A. (2014). The effect of police body-worn cameras on use of force and citizens’ complaints against the police: A randomized controlled trial.
Journal of Quantitative Criminology,
31(3), 509–535. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10940-014-9236-3
Gaub, J. E., Choate, D. E., Todak, N., Katz, C. M., & White, M. D. (2016). Officer feelings of body-worn cameras before and after deployment.
Police Quarterly,
19(3), 275–302. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098611116653398
Jennings, W. G., Fridell, L. A., & Lynch, M. D. (2014). Cops and cameras: Officer perceptions of the use of body-worn cameras in law enforcement.
Journal of Criminal Justice,
42(6), 549–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2014.09.008
Lum, C., Stoltz, M., Koper, C. S., & Scherer, J. A. (2019). Research on body‐worn cameras.
Criminology & Public Policy,
18(1), 93–118. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12412
Schofield, K. (2021). Michael D. White & Aili Malm (2020) Cops, cameras, and crisis: The potential and the perils of police body-worn cameras. New York: New York University Press.
Law, Technology and Humans,
3(1), 148–150. https://doi.org/10.5204/lthj.1783
