[20140828]IN10142_佩戴在身上的摄像头能否对警察的不当行为起到威慑作用？.pdf

CRS InsightsCan Body Worn Cameras Serve as a Deterrent to Police Misconduct?Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy (njamescrs.loc.gov, 7-0264)August 28, 2014 (IN10142)Conflicting accounts about what transpired before Michael Brown was shot by Ferguson (MO) PoliceOfficer Darren Wilson on August 9 have raised questions about police accountability and transparency.Requiring law enforcement officers to use body worn cameras (BWCs) has emerged as one idea todeter officer misconduct and reduce the inappropriate use of force, among other things. BWCs aremobile cameras that allow law enforcement officers to record what they see and hear. They can beattached to a helmet, a pair of glasses, or an officers shirt or badge.Potential Merits of BWCsThere are several perceived benefits to the use of BWCs by law enforcement officers. One of theprimary perceived benefits of BWCs is that they will have a civilizing and deterrent effect on bothofficers and citizens, resulting in fewer citizen complaints, less use of force by officers, and fewerassaults on officers. A review of the research on BWCs finds evidence that use of BWCs leads tosubstantial decreases in each of these areas. For instance, a freq