Police and Technology: Body-Worn Cameras.
Although body-worn cameras may help examine police methods and enhance police transparency, there are a number of hidden issues and challenges. Please address the following question:
Discuss the benefits – but also the potential consequences – of the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement.
Here is a list of issues that you may want to discuss in your paper (only suggestions – you do not have to cover all of them). Given the length of the assignment, you may select a single issue or a combination of issues that are of interest. The following are only provided to help with ideas for your paper:
- Legal issues (related to citizen privacy)
- Use in Court – if it is considered evidence can a prosecutor block its dissemination?
- Storage and related costs
- How long should footage be stored?
- Personnel considerations (related to increased staffing to handle video evidence)
- Modified officer conduct and behavior
- Policies and procedures concerning the equipment (such as when to activate and deactivate)
- Community (and police union) acceptance / understanding / involvement.
- Access to videos. Since the videos are technically data, should the media have access to them through Freedom of Information requests?
- What about the general public?
- If I am involved in a police related incident can I request footage of my encounter? Can I post it on social media?
- Obtain a copy of a body-worn camera policy for your local police department (or a nearby police department if the local agency does not have cameras). Does the policy address issues such as when the camera should be activated and deactivated?
- Officer rights – constant monitoring.
- Mandating all officers have body cameras – Accountability and Transparency?
- Dissemination of video data recorded from the cameras? Immediately? Edits? Personal or Medical information?
- Sensitive footage involving children?
- Police training purposes
- Other issues
Assignment Guidelines:
Title Page: Include the class, title, the professor and your name.
Paper Structure: An introduction, relevant discussion points (issues) and an overall
summary/conclusion.
Paper Length: Approx. 2 – 3 pages – excluding Title and Reference pages.
References: As support – minimum two academic sources
Layout: Title with subheadings for each point of discussion
Margins: One-inch margins on all sides of the paper
Font: The document must be in Times Roman 12
Line Spacing: Everything must be double-spaced
Style: Use the American Psychological Association manual for formatting
Citations: Everything must be appropriately cited in the text and in the Reference
section
Page Numbers: All pages must be numbered except the title page
Spelling: Spelling errors will result in a deduction of points
Grammar: Poor grammar will result in a deduction of points