Should Police Wear Body Cameras Research Paper

There has been some debate on the matter of whether or not law enforcement officials should wear body cameras or not. Law enforcement officers should wear body-worn cameras because it will help the officers while on patrol and the offender while being arrested or stopped. This topic has been debated for a long period of time. It really came to light when Michael Brown, an 18 year old african american boy, was shot and killed in August of 2014 by Officer Wilson, in Ferguson, Missouri.

“There have been other high-profile instances of officers not turning on cameras. One officer involved in the shooting of a 22-year-old black man in the small city of Saratoga Springs, Utah, in September didn't turn on his body camera. A second officer involved in the incident had no camera” (Jackson). Body Cameras could help officers make their jobs easier by keeping civilians more civil. Body Cameras would help show if they unnecessary force against civilians. The more use of body cameras would help improve behaviors of officers who are using excessive force for no

Police officers should have to be required to wear body cameras to ensure the safety of the citizens and to provide evidence for a court case. Many times the police have gotten away with too many things and commit crimes that go unnoticed It’s time we put a stop to that and we make a change. With the use of body cameras that police force would be more trustworthy, they wouldn’t commit crimes, and they would be able to supply the court with undisputable evidence.

Body cameras in policing are still new, but more and more agencies are beginning to implement this technology into their line of work. At first police officers were very hesitant to wear these body cameras because they were afraid they would infringe themselves and give away their own privacy. Later, as body cameras were beginning to see more use in the work place, officers began to realize that these very own body cameras that they once thought would only cause themselves harm would actual prove to be useful in a variety of situations. Some of these situations can be citizen complaints, to even backing up an officers use of force. Body cameras can be the one sole thing that can give

Historically speaking, authorities of the law were never in a position where their professional duties and their character as a public servant of the law were demeaned in a way that there needs to be constant surveillance of them and the people whom they come into contact with. There was never a need of documenting every encounter you had with a civilian before. In this day in age, things have certainly changed, and the past has always been something society likes to change and make better even if it raises concerns. Due to all the violent police stories that has surfaced in the past decade, the idea of having police officers wear video cameras as a part of their uniform while on duty has resulted in a radically divergent account of society’s future. The law may uphold cops to wear cameras while working, but is this really the best decision? This topic is very controversial and may create issues with cops and the civilians they try and protect in the future.

Several studies, such as those done by Barak Ariel, et al. have demonstrated a very strong connection between the use of body-worn cameras and reduction of complaints (Ariel et al., “The Effect”) (Ariel, et al., “Contagious...”). There is also an argument to be made for the relationship between the police and their communities. If the departments invest in things that make the public feel safer, such as body-worn cameras, then they will in turn be safer, as their communities will not feel threatened by their presence, but protected.

Due to the events in Ferguson Missouri that happened on August 9th 2014, a new controversy has swept the nation. The question seems to be, should American police officers be required to wear body cameras? A petition was started on the website “We the People” to instate a new law, called the "Mike Brown Law", that requires all police officers to wear body cameras. The petition has acquired over 150,000 signatures and a good deal of news coverage. If this law were to be put into fruition, it will help restore citizens’ faith in the police force. For another thing, citizens would no longer have to worry about the police using unnecessary force. On the other hand, this is not a punishment for police. It will also be helpful for the police when

Imagine if every police officer in the United States had to be required to wear body cameras. The questioning between officer Darren Wilson and Mike Brown could have been solved if a body camera could have captured the incident. This can increase the better outcomes of police officers and their job. People will be able to see everything that happens through the camera 's lens. How do you feel about body cameras being worn? Even though some people believe police officers should not have to wear body cameras, I believe that police officers should be required to wear body cams at all times on duty because it creates more evidence in cases, enforces officers to abide by the laws,and builds trust with the community.

People are debating if police officers should have to wear body cameras or not. Everyone has different opinions. I believe it would be good for police men to wear body cameras, so that other police can see what is happening on the crime scene. Also it is easier if the men who are on duty need help. Sometimes when police officers are on a scene of a crime it is not always that easy to call for help or backup. Body cameras are also helpful for police officers, because it can help them prove a point. Police have evidence and proof about what really happened.

One study concluded, “that such cameras led to both more professional behavior on the part of officers and to speedier resolution of complaints regarding officer professionalism…” (Pagliarella). It is likely that greater amounts of officer civility will lead to a decrease in the amounts of reports of officer misconduct. Additionally, even police officers themselves are in support of the use of body cameras. One Time Magazine writer commented that, “Police interest in body cameras has accelerated in the past few years following a number of high-profile deaths at the hands of police officers” (Sanborn). Just like any regular civilian, police officers agree that body cameras could help decrease malpractice of violence, so they should be used.

After the fatal shooting of Michael Brown and many other unarmed citizens, the call for all police to carry body cameras has intensified. Police Cameras are a well debated topic within the US. Many police stations have experimented with cameras, or have entertained the idea of. Many people call for police to have some version of recording devices.

One reason police officers should wear body cameras is to be able to use the videos as evidence. Many cases cannot be resolve due to lack of evidence and the death of citizens in the hands of police officers. Lately we had many incidents were citizens were killed by police officers, and there is not enough proof if this

Police officers should be required to use body cameras because the body cameras will help the officers to file a truthful report, and also the body cameras will help to strengthen the between the community and the officers. Police officers should have body cameras.

“An officer in Ferguson, Missouri, shoots and kills an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown. Since many people were triggered, they protested for police to use body cameras at all time while at work.” Police officers should be required to wear body cameras to keep people in the community safer and to prevent accidental deaths. Body cameras is a small video camera worn on the body/police uniform, that typically used by police officers to record arrests, evidence from crime scenes, etc.

The production of law enforcement cameras on police officers should be highly enforced. In South Carolina a police officer was charged with murder after shooting an unarmed man during a traffic stop. Somehow, someone caught everything on tape. Michael T. Slager was running for his life when a police officer shot him 8 times in the back. The officer said he had feared for his life because the man had taken his gun and in the video it clearly showed the man had no weapons. Normally, police officers wouldn’t get caught or taken to jail for things like this because of their lies. If police officers were to get body cameras placed on their uniforms we could see the truth.