Holding Police More Accountable for Misconduct: The Effectiveness of Body-worn Cameras

• In Event: Training, Technology, and Policy to Control Police Behavior

Abstract

Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) are an ever-increasing technology of interest to those seeking to better understand interactions between the police and citizens. We examined the extent to which police BWCs improve accountability for citizen complaints, and whether they reduce racial disparities in the adjudication process. Based on a cluster randomized controlled trial from a BWC pilot program implemented in New York City in 2017, and citizen complaints data from New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), we evaluate the extent to which the presence of BWCs during police/citizen interactions and the use of BWC footage in citizen complaint investigations helped CCRB reach a swift determination and complete investigations on the merits of the evidence. Additionally, we examined how BWCs help to substantiate citizen allegations and make police officers more accountable when they engage in misconduct. Finally, we investigated whether BWCs can help eliminate racial disparities in the investigation outcomes.

Authors

• Suat Cubukcu, Towson University

• Nusret Sahin, Stockton University

• Volkan Topalli, Georgia State University

• Erdal Tekin, American University

• Alli M. Aston, American University