Research Paper Topic Selection with Research Questions Assignment
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RESEARCH PAPER
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Research Paper: Topic Selection with Research Questions Assignment
Caitlyn C. Blakely
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
Author Note
Caitlyn C. Blakely
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Caitlyn C. Blakely.
Email: ccblakely@liberty.edu
RESEARCH PAPER
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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Police Body-Worn Cameras in Enhancing Transparency
and Accountability
The topic explores the core of modern law enforcement operations. The way that police
actions are documented and examined has changed dramatically since the introduction of police
body cameras (BWCs). These tools are intended to improve accountability and transparency by
providing an unbiased perspective of police-community interactions. However, the degree to
which BWCs succeed in achieving these goals is still up for discussion and investigation, making
it an interesting area of research.
The adoption of BWCs represents a change in policy as well as a technological
achievement. Their deployment touches on important areas of law enforcement and raises
concerns about balancing individual rights and efficient police (Lum, 2019). Transparency is a
key policy concern pertaining to BWCs. These gadgets record police encounters in unaltered
audio and visual form, which is very helpful in situations where the behavior of law enforcement
officials is questioned. To foster public confidence and guarantee that police officers’ acts are
subject to review, this degree of openness is essential. BWCs are also viewed as instruments to
improve police accountability (Koen, Newell, & Roberts, 2020). The camera's existence may
affect the public’s and the officer’s behavior. It serves as a reminder that what you do is being
recorded, which could result in more measured and formal relationships. This accountability
viewpoint is not without its difficulties, though. There is a lot of discussion and study about the
efficacy of BWCs in changing behavior or lowering instances of misconduct and the use of
force.
Deploying police body-worn cameras (BWCs) raises privacy concerns and sparks
discussions about people’s rights during recorded interactions. Although BWCs provide insight
RESEARCH PAPER
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into police operations, they also record scenes with citizens, often in extremely delicate
circumstances. It is difficult and challenging to balance upholding law enforcement’s
transparency and protecting people’s right to privacy (Nix, Todak, & Tregle, 2020). The
difficulty facing law enforcement organizations is creating complex guidelines that specify when
and when cameras should be used. These regulations need to consider several scenarios, from
ordinary traffic stops to circumstances in private homes with a naturally higher expectation of
privacy. The standards should also include data storage and access, guaranteeing that video is
safe and managed in a way that preserves the privacy of individuals being recorded (Gaub &
White, 2020). Key issues in the conversation about BWCs and privacy include how long video
should be kept, who may see it, and when it can be shared.
The importance of BWC footage in court cases emphasizes the necessity for strong
policy frameworks even more. Its integrity and admissibility are crucial since this video becomes
a crucial piece of evidence in trials and investigations (Lawshe, 2021). Clear and uniform rules
governing the use of BWC footage in court are necessary for legal systems. These rules should
cover the chain of custody for video to guarantee that it is untainted and gives a true account of
what happened. The rights of everybody involved in the legal process must be safeguarded by a
clear, uniform procedure for submitting BWC films as evidence. Furthermore, ignoring how this
footage can affect juries’ perceptions is impossible. The presentation of BWC film in courtrooms
can greatly impact trial results; therefore, its usage must be handled carefully and ethically
(Crow & Smykla, 2019). Establishing and improving these principles requires cooperation
between law enforcement and judicial authorities. This will ensure that BWCs fulfill their
intended role of advancing justice and accountability while protecting the fundamental rights to
privacy and a fair trial.
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