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The jury serves as an important reference point for criminal case processing, despite the fact that the majority of cases are disposed of by pleas or dismissals. This research examines the downstream impact of BWC footage on the adjudication process with a particular emphasis on the management of uncertainty. Research involved interviews with prosecutors and defense attorneys in urban counties in California, New York, and Texas. The results indicate that both defense and prosecution anticipate BWC changing approaches to cases and how cases may be negotiated to an outcome. They also report that jurors expect BWC footage, and that it functions as a means to establish case facts and the credibility of police, the defendant and witnesses. Policy implications regarding the introduction of BWC and future directions for research are discussed.

Using in-depth interview data from 30 young Black men of West Indian background, we examine their experiences with and perceptions of the American criminal justice system. Their experiences lead these men to contend that the system, especially police authorities, do not differentiate between Blacks based on ethnicity and subsequently treat West Indians and African Americans in a similar manner, that is, race trumps ethnicity. These men discuss their concerns about stereotypes of minorities, especially as they are reflected in the media, as the primary reasons for their treatment. However, these men also provide nuanced accounts in which not all system actors engage in discriminatory behavior. These accounts rest on an immigrant lens regarding criminal justice, which may indicate a more favorable outlook compared to their native-born Black counterparts. Overall, though, the interview data suggest that a Black–White divide regarding such perceptions will persist in an era of substantial sociodemographic change.

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