Pros And Cons Of Body Cameras

Body cameras can hold police officers accountable for their actions, both the good and the bad. “Continuously wearing body cameras would hold police accountable for their appropriate, and inappropriate, conduct” (Buam). Also when the citizens make accusations they could pull the video from the camera and see whether the police officer did what they said they did or not. “Video recorded by body cams protect any false accusations, misconduct, or abuse

Within recent years there has been much controversy surrounding police officers and whether or not they should be wearing body cameras to document their everyday interactions with the public. While the use of body cameras may seem to invade the public or police privacy. Police-worn body cameras will be beneficial to law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Police must be equipped with body cameras to alleviate any doubt in the effectiveness of officers. Law enforcement worn body cameras would enhance the trust of the public by keeping both the officers and the citizens accountable for their actions, providing evidence, and helping protect them from false accusations, while protecting privacy

Today, law enforcement agencies, or more specifically police officers, are under constant scrutiny from their peers as well as outside sources. Many of these problems arise from how the police treat and deal with these citizens. There is however a solution to these problems, which can not only improve officer safety, but can also protect anyone else that the officer encounters. The solution to this problem is officer mounted camera systems, or better known as body cameras. These body cameras capture almost everything an officer see’s as well as hears. This allows for protection against a police officer as well as protection for a citizen who was scrutinized for something he or she might have done or not. Body cameras are ever increasing in policing and have many benefit’s as well as draw backs.

The body camera has become a popular choice amongst police departments worldwide. The situation of the scenario, and if the officer or suspect acted in the right can be determined from past footage. The cause of the body camera has been the allegations against officers for how they acted in certain situations, as well as for how the suspect acted during the callout. The effect has been officers being terminated due to lack of integrity or situational awareness, as well as officer safety. Suspects have also been convicted of false accusations against a police officer, as well as crimes presented in court, from fights, to officer involved shootings. The body worn camera has benefited both police officers and the general public.

Moreover, to stop the crime and police brutality, body cameras would not be a bad idea if they were to be taken a step forward. Nancy La Vigne writer of “Body Cameras for Police Could Be One Smart Step” talks about supervisors monitoring the cameras in case an altercation were to happen (6). Nancy also talks about body cameras invading constitutional rights of the citizens. Vigne writes, “Body cameras will capture not just an officers actions, but also those of the citizens with whom they interact – or even individuals walking by or in the background” (Vigne). Nancy’s point is that with the body cameras and civilians being recorded, should the citizens know they are being recorded. Another solution for the body cameras to be able to work would be for the cops to have no access to the cameras.

Police officers should wear body cameras at all times on duty because it creates more evidence. Body cameras document everything from witnesses,victims,and suspects. “Perceived benefits that body-worn cameras offer—capturing a video recording of critical incidents and encounters with the public, strengthening police accountability, and providing a valuable new type of evidence—largely outweigh the potential drawbacks. (Ziv). This supports the argument because body cameras will be able to record any incidents and report them with the public. This quote support my big argument because only the officers and the victims knows what going on in a situation. This quote supports the position because now there will be clear evidence in certain

Are you confident that the body camera is keeping both sides honest? Cameras can only show what the camera holder wants us to see. However, on some levels, I think the cameras on the officers can become beneficial because as the public a little more can become seen than just hearing the cops word. William, I worry about the body cameras, when activated because " the cameras can also capture moments after a stressful incident where statements by the officers and the public can be taken out of context and used against the person making the statements." The cameras becoming used as away to cause harm or used out of context is why I am very undecided whether the cameras are the best idea. I am glad that I am not the only one that thought

As of now in the United States the main issues that continue to arise is excessive force and violating peoples Fourth Amendment rights. It is apparent the hot topic for this discussion is going to be the body cameras. I have to wear a body camera on patrol. Per our policy, anytime we have an interaction with the general public our body camera will be on during the duration of the interaction. Before I left corrections to come to patrol there were no body cameras in corrections. Now our correction officers must wear them as well. So not only are the patrol man affected by changes, but our corrections side is as well.

A developing number of state and province authoritative offices over the United States have been debating the advantages and disadvantages to police body cameras and whether they ought to end up a portion of the standard law implementation officer's uniform. Earlier police divisions were using cameras before the big change. Rialto, California police department has been wearing body-mounted cameras that record everything that happens in the middle of cops and civilians. Police officers have gotten above the law and are now able to abuse their powers as they wish, this truth is to be extremely terrifying. Especially being an African American male in today’s society and see these acts of deadly force being posted on social media affects me every

Some feel that is not necessary for police to wear cameras because self-defense does not need to be justified. The assumption is that police officers are doing their job in an honest and fair way is enough for some. It does need to be taken into consideration that the ideal police officers are serving for the public and that their intentions

I do agree that police officers should wear body cameras to prevent violence and protect any false accusations, misconduct, or abuse against the officers. For an example an officer using excessive force on a civilian, that doesn’t have a weapon on them can cause a major issue in our society. In addition it will also help the civilians to be able to trust the law enforcement officers. While the camera is rolling the civilians and the police officers can act accordantly. Even though many people believe that police officers wearing body cameras will cause problems with privacy, but in the long run this will make a difference on how we as a society handle certain situations.

-Talk about recent problems in America leading to people wanting the use of body cameras on police officers

First and foremost the introduction of the use police body worn cameras in the Law enforcement is laudable. But the use of these police worn body cameras has its pros and cons. I have confidence in the use of body worn camera, but it should be tested before it becomes compulsory for all Law enforcement personnel. The use of this system will bring transparency within the law enforcement agency, but I believe it will bring more harm than good. I’m not against or for the motion with the use of body worn cameras because the advantages and disadvantages are pretty even. I do believe body worn cameras should be used whenever appropriate. Officers should be allowed to turn them on and off at the public and their own discretion. It is not fair nor

SMILE! Your on Camera If body cameras were put on police officers in your area, would you support it, or would you go against it? Body cameras are basically small video cameras, worn on a human being’s body, and it is typically used by police officers when they need to record arrests, crimes, etc. Body cameras were actually introduced in the UK in 2005, and after the U.S saw what they were doing, they wanted to use their idea and put body cameras on police officers to hopefully reduce police brutality and so on. Many people like this idea, but a lot of people think that this idea is not the best idea they could have come up with.

Are body-worn cameras helping or hurting the Country? It all started on August 9, 2014 with the death of 18 year old Michael Brown. Michael Brown was a young man from Ferguson, Missouri, when he was shot and killed. Many eyewitnesses to the event state they saw “Michael with his hands in the air when the officer shot” and others state that “Michael was charging the officer when he was shot” (“Body-Worn Cameras”). The Police officer, Darren Wilson, was not charged by a grand jury in the shooting of Michael Brown, but Brown’s family wanted people to rally around them and get officers across the country to start wearing body cameras.