Pros Cons of Police Body Cameras PDF

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PROS AND CONS OF BODY CAMERA
Pros of Police Body Cameras
1. Police body cameras highlight what happens in heated situations.
The goal of police body cameras is to emphasize officers' decision-making processes when they are confronted with tense circumstances. This technology has l...

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The Supreme Court has mandated that officers wear body cameras during arrests, but the arrest would still be lawful if the cops can show that the device malfunctioned at the time of the operation or present other "reasonable grounds." "Failure to comply with the requirement of using body-worn cameras or other alternative recording devices shall not render the arrest unlawful or render the evidence obtained inadmissible; facts surrounding the arrest may be proven by the testimonies of the arresting officers, the person arrested, and other witnesses to the arrest," according to Section 5, Rule 2 on arrest warrants. Body cameras are worn by police officers to record video and audio of incidents that occur while on the job. The purpose of this technology is to offer proof in situations where emotions are high and one's recall of an incident is shaky. The majority of police enforcement officers will wear this equipment on their torsos, while specialist teams such as SWAT may choose for a helmet-mounted version similar to what military troops use.

PROS AND CONS OF BODY CAMERA Pros of Police Body Cameras 1. Police body cameras highlight what happens in heated situations. The goal of police body cameras is to emphasize officers' decision-making processes when they are confronted with tense circumstances. This technology has little effect on an individual's entrenched habits. Instead, it will emphasize them so that each decision can be scrutinized by the public. Because the video produced by these units may be used as evidence, it is also important in illuminating police investigations. 2. This technology can improve how officers behave. The ordinary individual will behave better if they are aware that they are responsible for their behavior. When a visible camera is evident on a police officer's uniform, interactions between the public and law enforcement personnel are often more courteous. Because the tape may be used as evidence if a case goes to trial, many suspects temper their initial rage, fearing that further accusations would be brought against them based on the direct record of their actions. 3. It provides law enforcement agencies with a new training tool. Police officers, like everyone else, require time to train and improve. Athletes frequently examine film of themselves in different scenarios in order to better understand their decision-making process at the moment. There are additional learning chances available by evaluating the events that transpired, which can help someone make a better decision in the future. For police officers, this gadget functions in the same way. Specific film samples can be used as a teaching tool for recruits by departments. It's a benefit that may lead to improved standards of professional behaviour up and down the chain of command, resulting in more community trust.

Cons of Police Body Cameras 1. Privacy Issue The recording of police contacts with the general people may result in the public disclosure of private information. It's a matter of public safety. The camera will record everyone's actions in the scene. At times, police officers engage with the person at an inopportune time. If they know their conversation will be recorded, they will be less likely to come forward and give information. Some police agencies allow officers to switch off their cameras during sensitive situations, which might result in the loss of important information or evidence. 2. Safety of Officers When a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may react differently or aggressively when being recorded by a cop. According to a research, when police officers wore body cameras, attacks on them increased by 14%. Electric shock or burns from malfunctioning equipment are other significant health and safety risks related with the usage of body cameras. 3. Pretty Expensive The cost of equipping police with body cameras might be prohibitive. There are several additional costs associated with it, including software upgrades, hardware upgrades, and maintenance. The average cost of a police body camera is between $400 and $600. The expense of storing recorded data is rather high. Because of the escalating expenses of the cameras, maintenance, and data storage, several departments, particularly those with limited budgets, have discontinued body-worn camera projects.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BODY CAMERA ADVANTAGES 1. Police body cameras are a powerful tool in domestic violence cases. When an officer wearing a camera arrives at a domestic violence scene, the camera can record the immediate aftermath of the attack, including the victim's injuries and victim statements, which may be more honest than later statements once victims remember emotional and financial ties to their abusers. Victims may also feel more confident in their claims if they have video proof to back them up. 2. It creates useful evidence that is suitable for prosecution. The video footage captured by police body cameras can be used as evidence in a variety of legal cases. Because the evidence from this technology is highly persuasive, it is an alternative that can lead to a decrease in court costs. This content can also give corroborating evidence that backs up witness accounts or written records regarding an occurrence that happens. This benefit not only reduces

the amount of paperwork that individuals have to deal with while performing their jobs, but it also has the potential to enhance the rate of convictions and boost the number of effective plea-bargaining efforts that local prosecutors pursue. DISADVANTAGES 1. There is no guarantee that the technology will work. The people who produce technology are only as good as the people who make it. Consumable items, such as police body cams, are likewise deemed consumable. When you use it every day, it will eventually wear out. This implies that an officer can do everything correctly and still have their camera fail. Batteries have been known to stop charging for a variety of reasons. Even anything as basic as an unidentified lens blockage might create problems with the film. You also face the danger of mistakenly deleting the video files during the transfer to storage or recovery for evidence assessment. There are many unknowns that can occur, which necessitates cautious handling. 2. Cameras might stop some witnesses from helping an investigation. People prefer not to go on camera unless they have a good reason to do so. When cops are investigating a tense incident or a troubling case, the fact that an interview might be documented while they are standing in their own house may stop some people from cooperating. It might even prohibit certain cops from entering a residence since the footage could be used as a low-level search when they return. That implies society may need to reconsider its position on the premise that if you're not guilty, you have nothing to hide, because every encounter with law enforcement might permanently store everything you own and who you are.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECT OF BODY CAMERA Positive Effect of Body Cameras Every year, police officers are accused of abusing their authority and firearms in ways that may or may not have followed proper police protocols. There are other instances where the police' reports conflict with the suspect's version of events. The answer may be found in video documentation. Having police wear cameras on the job provides for more transparency. Better evidence collection, more officer accountability, more accurate documentation of occurrences, greater communication between the police and the public, and the opportunity to utilize the films as teaching materials for improving police performance are all advantages of using body cameras. Negative Effect of Body Cameras Although it may appear that the benefits of having police officers wear body cameras outweigh the disadvantages, there is another side to the story. For the footage to be helpful, the cameras must be turned on and the video must be properly preserved. The ACLU and others are concerned that security camera video may be utilized for inappropriate surveillance rather than to protect the public. Another factor

to examine is if the police would change their behavior or perform worse if they were aware that they were being recorded. Is it true that having everything recorded makes them behave differently? What impact do the recordings have on the public's perception of the police, for better or worse?...