...media attention these days. This attention can be attributed to recent years of high profile events such as protests, uses of force, and misconduct. The public demands law enforcement professionals to adhere to certain standards and be accountable for their actions. As a result of changing times, law enforcement identified a need to record their interactions with the public on a daily basis in order to justify their actions to critics. This need could be fulfilled by having officers wear body worn cameras to document their interactions with the public. Law enforcement agencies must weigh the costs, benefits, and cons of acquiring body worn cameras for their officers. There are...
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...Over the past years, police departments across the United States began implementing a body-worn camera program to further maintain transparency within their communities. However, as the body-worn cameras were first introduced to the departments, it was followed with numerous concerns by officers and civilians. Since being introduced, the body-worn camera program policy continues to evolve and change in policy followed by input by the Police Commission, Mayor, American Civil Liberties Unions and civilians. As police departments are approving the body-warn cameras, there has been a numerous amount of benefits since the implementation of the program. The Arizona State university conducted a study on the Mesa (Arizona) Police department which...
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...They have not meet the demands of the people, even when there are proven solutions that have already made an impact on a smaller scale. but can bring change on a national level if implemented. Recently at the University of South Florida a group underwent a study evaluating the Impact of Police Officer Body-Worn Cameras in The Orlando Police Department. The study was during a 12 month period where they randomly selected 46 officers to wear body worn cameras and randomly selected 43 officers to not. A piece of their report stated “Interestingly, although nearly all of the officers were skeptical about the positive impact that body worn cameras would have on their behavior in the BWC implementation survey, wearing a BWC did positively influence their behavior and lead to significant reductions in response to resistance and serious external complaints.” Success in a city like Orlando is promising, especially for a city who in 2015 saw their police department using excessive force on over 500 different...
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...Police Worn Body Cameras: A Step in the Right Direction Andrew Cordier ENG122: English Composition II Instructor Amy Morris August 18, 2016 There have been numerous advances in technology in recent years and some include law enforcement. Over the years, there have been huge strides in the technological advances in surveillance. Police Departments are one of these groups who have seen an increase in surveillance technology like dashboard mounted cameras, and now law enforcement agencies are looking to equip their officers with body cameras that can be worn on an officer’s lapel, glasses, and on their chest. The idea of equipping officers with these body cameras has been a hot topic of debate in light of recent past events, such as the unarmed shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson Missouri Mandatory use of body cameras should be put into place because it will protect civilians from the use of excessive force and hold officers responsible for their actions, not invade the privacy of both the public and police officers with the proper guidelines in place, and lower the rates of police use of excessive force, while lowering the rates of false claims against officers. With more and more cases of use of excessive force against civilians, people across America are becoming outraged by the actions of police officers and feel that taking the word of an officer is no longer good enough to explain their actions. Americans across the nation want answers...
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...created animosity between the two groups, causing a lack of trust in the legitimacy of police work. The case and trial surrounding the death of Michael Brown at the hands of a Missouri police officer was one of the more recent controversial stories that help spark a policing reform by President Barrack Obama. This reform recommended greater usage of body worn cameras by funding $75 million towards equipping law enforcement with body worn cameras while implementing procedures to improve evidence collection and police...
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...officers be required to wear body cameras? Police officers have had their ups and downs with public citizens in the past years, making many citizens feel a loss of trust. However, there are many things the law enforcement system can do to increase citizens' trust. Finding an effective way to do this while still focusing on their jobs can be challenging. Many individuals argue on whether body-worn cameras are a benefit in solving this concern. However, police officers should use body cameras because they have received substantial support from citizens and are helping police officers lower their reports of misconduct. Firstly, since law enforcement started using body-worn cameras, police misconduct complaints have been lowered....
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...the harms from criminals. On the other hand, a lot of civilians get over harm during law enforcement. If we want police to become better effect for communities, the top priority is that we need reduce the police use of excessive force. First of all, police should wear body camera to reduce police brutality. According to the article, “Self-Awareness to Being Watched and Socially-Desirable Behavior: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-of-Force." By Barak Ariel, PhD describes “body cameras can give police some limitation by creating self-awareness. (8)” Once they want to abuse their power, they will think that they can get punishment from those evidences recorded by cameras. Second of all, ethics training reduces excessive force significantly. Furthermore, it can improve police ethics during the law enforcement, and it will help them thinking before they pull trigger. As a final point, police department should enforce laws and maintain order of excessive force when police officers are during law enforcement. Moreover, it will reduce the negative outcomes and complaints for police. First of all, body-worn camera can improve police`s self-awareness during law enforcement. Body-worn camera is the easiest way to record what the police officer does during...
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...A Body-worn camera is a video recording system that is often used by law enforcement officers to record their communications with the public or gather video evidence at crime scenes. When body cameras were first introduced to the American public, police body-cameras seemed like they might help everyone. Police departments liked that body cameras reduced the number of public complaints about the officers’ behaviors. Communities and protestors liked that they would introduce some clearness and responsibility to an officer’s actions. Body cameras for every officer in the area is known to be very expensive, but when done to ensure everyone’s’ safety then it is worth it .Ever since officers began to wear body cameras; the amount of force has reduced...
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...Police brutality is becoming a big thing today. The latest topic of discussion is “Should body cameras be worn by police officers?”. Some say that they should have to wear them to ensure that they are doing their job right, it will decrease public abuse, and that people will be less frightened when they are approached by them. Police officers are supposed to set an example for others of their community and be accountable for ALL of their actions. but, that would asking for too much in this generation. Police officers have been questioned many times whether they have committed a crime or not and that is pathetic. We should never have to question their loyalty to protect and serve. These scandalous assumptions have made the world wonder should...
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...ENG 112 30 November 2015 Body Cameras Providing Accountability Thesis Statement: Yes, body cameras should be worn by police officers because they provide accurate accounts of what happens at crime scenes, help civilians trust police officers, and give Americans an idea of what it is like to be behind the gun to more appreciate officers. I. Introduction II. Body cameras provide accurate account III. Body cameras help civilians trust officers IV. Body cameras gives an idea of what it is like behind the gun V. Refutation VI. Conclusion Body Cameras Providing Accountability The shooting of Trayvon Martin has elevated a necessity around the country for police officers to be equipped with body cameras. Yes, it is necessary for police officers to wear these cameras for accountability for oneself and a potential victim. Body cameras can rule out possible suspicions of wrongful deaths or mistreatments, such as racism. Police officers should want to protect themselves and their jobs with this device that records what is actually happening and being said at the crime scene. Yes, body cameras should be worn by police officers because they provide accurate accounts of what happens at crime scenes, helps civilians trust police officers, and gives Americans an idea of what it is like to be behind the gun to more appreciate officers. Body cameras provide an accurate account of what happens at crime scenes. The use of body cameras is a great way to get first...
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...Cameras Equal Change Keenan McGee COMM/215 December 15th, 2014 Amanda McClure Cameras Equal Change Every year there are hundreds of men and young men being profiled or targeted by overzealous police officers resulting in the deaths of multiple black youth. While some act unlawfully, there are some that do uphold the law. In light of recent deaths of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Eric Garner in New York City, twelve year old Tamir Rice also in New York and John Crawford, III in an Ohio Wal-Mart all with no indictments issued, police have to find a way to regain the public’s trust. I believe body cameras and an outside agency monitoring these cameras could change the way police officers approach every stop and interaction they have with a citizen. In this writing my goal is to point out how police officers can bring about change by wearing body cameras while on duty as a mandatory part of their uniform. A national debate has already started to show instances where cameras could have played a vital role in making sure the officer of the law was upholding the law and not acting out on racially charged behavior. While some people support the idea of body cameras there are those that oppose the idea. Both the public and the police would benefit from using them. For now let’s look at potential drawbacks of using them and why some parties are opposed to them. There could be policies put in place that violate the privacy of police officers and the public. There are arguments...
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...Cop cameras are slowly changing the ways of policing. The cameras are used to oversee a police officer's shift. The camera records all encounters of cops and civilians. Many people have expressed concerns over the use of the cameras because of personal privacy invasion. Police body cameras may go against the Fourth Amendment to a certain extent their benefits far outweigh these concerns. Police body cameras have been the talk of officers for many years. Police cams have been around since at least the 1960’s (Criminol). Cop cams were invented to prevent unlawful cops. They were also made to provide more accurate evidence of what happens with officers on the job. A long time ago officers first tried to use dash cams that were mounted inside the car. This posed issues of not recording quality videos. Another issue was that the camera did not getting the entire encounter of the officer and civilian. Eventually dash cams became less popular, since body cameras were invented. One issue is that, “Body cams will often capture people at their worst-drunk, abusive, profane, and at their most personal- during domestic disputes, mental health crises, medical emergencies, and etc” (Rutledge). With technology progressing the...
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...records of abuse or public complaints should receive camera-monitoring, training, and counseling. This can reduce the risk of future incidents and a better reputation to the public. The only matter that should be taken in deep consideration is will receiving the camera...
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...ties to crime. Cameras are everywhere now; social media is growing and will never stop. What are the potential effects of social media, presenting an unbalanced picture of crime? Why are law enforcement officers wearing body cameras to correct social media? Crime has become an increasing theme of social media in the platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram have transformed the way we understand and experience crime and victimization. (McGovern & Milivojevic, 2016) The media changes the mindset of people to perceive the criminal offense is higher than the event. Where did the sense of privacy go? We should keep in mind; however, crime is presented by social media there is usually more sensational...
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...Cameras would do a lot to impact the safety of not only civilians, but the police as well. With video evidence of all police interactions, court cases would no longer solely rely on witnesses. If Darren Wilson had been wearing a body camera when Michael Brown was killed, it is very likely that the whole Ferguson situation would be vastly different. Not only would the police officer have been identified sooner, he would most likely be in jail (and not still on paid leave) because of the obvious murder caught on video. Some police may be concerned about being filmed because it strips them of their privacy while doing their jobs. However, the majority of workers in America are monitored while on the job, due to the prevalence of security cameras in the workplace. If the police in general are following their procedures, then they have no reason to fear being...
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