Investigating the prevalence and utility of police body-worn cameras in the George Floyd protests

Abstract

PurposeUnlike protests against police brutality in the past (2014 and earlier), police officers responding to First Amendment-protected demonstrations in summer 2020 likely were wearing body-worn cameras(BWCs). This study seeks to understand police perceptions of the effects of BWCs when used in the George Floyd protests.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use survey data from 100 agencies with federally-funded BWCs to assess the prevalence of BWC deployment to George Floyd protests and perceived benefits and limitations of the technology within this unique context.FindingsAbout three-quarters of agencies encountered some level of demonstration/protest related to the killing of George Floyd, and the majority of those deployed BWCs during these demonstrations. Respondents indicated evidentiary value of footage was a key reason for doing so, and at least three preconditions for a civilizing effect were present.Originality/valueResearch has documented numerous benefits associated with BWCs, from reductions in use of force and citizen complaints to evidentiary value. However, the extent to which BWC benefits extend to public protests is unclear. The George Floyd protests represent an opportunity to understand the prevalence and usefulness of BWCs in policing public protests.

Police Concerns Over Body-Worn Cameras—the Legitimator, the Nihilist, and the Agnostic: A Herald From Cyprus

“…In all, and as so aptly described by Coudert et al (2015), police body-worn cameras, "by exposing bad and good behavior, it is hoped that they will act as deterrents against the (mis)use of force and discrimination by police officers or violent behavior of citizens against police" (p. 750). In other words, the potential of BWCs (as a tool for observing/ monitoring human behavior) to collect evidence (Gaub et al, 2022) and register mischief on behalf of both police and citizens, coerces, as a result, both parties to behave themselves (Braga et al, 2018, p. 516). Yet, it must always be borne in mind that any benefit accrued from technology is contingent to the very context, settings, and dynamics within which it is deployed.…”

Modeling Officer Perceptions of Body-worn Cameras: A National Survey

“…During the protests following the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, agencies tasked with policing the gatherings often relied on BWCs (Gaub et al, 2022). Recent work finds some officers report speedier case resolution when they were able to provide BWC footage (B. C. Newell, 2021).…”

“…For example, during the George Floyd protests, the ACLU argued that BWCs should not be present at protests as they cameras might serve to chill free speech and assembly (Gaub et al, 2022). As an illustration of how policy preferences shift in this area, consider that in the beginning of the BWC era, the ACLU's position was that BWCs should be on continuously, recording everything (Stanley, 2013, p. 2): "From an accountability perspective, the ideal policy for body-worn cameras would be for continuous recording throughout a police officer's shift, eliminating any possibility that an officer could evade the recording of abuses committed on duty."…”

Body Cameras and Adjudication: Views of Prosecutors and Public Defenders

“…There are currently two studies that focus on the downstream effects of BWC on adjudication that examine how prosecutors and defense attorneys are adapting to BWC. Gaub et al, (2019Gaub et al, ( , 2020 conducted focus groups that examined defense counsel views of BWC evidence among 31 attorneys in 5 public defense offices in Virginia. Defense attorneys reported three positive aspects of BWC including that it allows for understanding tone and demeanor, provides a comparison for police reports, and overall was considered a 'neutral observer' for establishing truth.…”