Qualitative Insights from Interviews on Body-Worn Cameras in Policing and Criminal Justice

• In Event: POL Panel 7. Police and the use of body-worn video

Abstract

In this presentation, we offer an exploration of some qualitative findings from our nationally-funded research project on body-worn cameras (BWCs) in policing and criminal justice, initiated at the University of Warsaw two years ago. Following our preliminary presentation, which outlined the planned research methodology, we have since conducted in-depth interviews with three distinct groups of experts: judges, law enforcement officers, and defense attorneys/human rights activists.
The core of our analysis revolves around the perspectives and experiences of these professionals, offering a diverse range of viewpoints on the practical implications of BWCs. Judges have provided insights into the adjudicative challenges and benefits of using BWC evidence in courtrooms. Law enforcement officers have contributed frontline perspectives on how BWCs influence policing practices, officer behavior, and interactions with the public. Defense attorneys and human rights activists have offered a critical lens on the implications of BWCs for civil liberties, legal defense strategies, and broader human rights concerns.
Our findings primarily focus on three pivotal issues: the use of BWC recordings as evidence in criminal proceedings, the impact of BWCs on law enforcement officers and their interventions, and the effects that BWCs may have on civilians during encounters with law enforcement.

Authors

• Piotr Lewulis, University of Warsaw

• Paweł Waszkiewicz, Faculty of Law and Administration