The Evaluation of Body-worn Cameras: Final Results from a Randomized Controlled Experiment in Orlando, FL.

• In Event: Uses and Impacts of Police Technologies

Abstract

For nearly a decade, a significant reliance on mobile technology has changed the way members of society interact. Smart phones provide capacity to communicate and record events in real time, impacting the way individuals interact with their community. This too is evident in police departments which have struggled to navigate this ever changing environment. With the current climate of police-community relations simmering, mobile technology has directly impacted law enforcement practices. Since 2010, police departments across the United States began adopting wearable technology with goals of increasing transparency and accountability. Body-worn cameras (BWCs) have provided police officers with a substantial resource for addressing issues meant to improve relations with the communities they serve. To date, research has shown that BWCs are capable of reducing use of force, complaints, and injuries (Ariel et al., 2015; Jennings et al., 2015; White, 2014). The current paper discusses the impact of BWCs on police officers in Orlando, Florida through a randomized controlled experiment. The paper will explore final results capable of providing insight into police officer perceptions of BWCs over time, the impact of BWCs on measures of officer behaviors & productivity, the role of implementation and policy recommendations in a mid-sized department.

Author

• Mathew D. Lynch, Urban Institute