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