Citizens’ Perception of the Effects of Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs): Findings from A Randomized Controlled Trial

• In Event: Perspectives on Crime Fighting Technology

Abstract

This study aims at uncovering citizens’ perception of the effects of police body-worn cameras (BWCs) on police and citizen using a randomized controlled trial in Turkey. Drivers randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=242) encountered with the traffic police officers wearing BWCs whereas those assigned to the control group (n=261) encountered with the traffic police officers without BWC. A structured survey with an open-ended question was administered to the drivers after the intervention. The answers to the open-ended question were coded first, and then analyzed (N=503). The findings indicated that compared to the control group, more respondents in the experimental group reported that BWCs would improve satisfaction, quality of treatment, police and citizen behavior, lawfulness, general and specific compliance, and reduce complaints and corruption while less respondents reported that BWCs would increase transparency and provide evidence. The findings also indicated that the exposure to BWC increased the citizens’ perception of the effects of BWCs on corruption most, followed by citizens’ behavior, lawfulness, police behavior, complaints, quality of treatment, both police and citizens’ behavior, compliance, general compliance, and satisfaction. However, the exposure to BWC decreased the citizens’ perception of the effects of BWCs on evidence and transparency.

Author

• Mustafa Demir, State University of New York at Plattsburgh