Body-Worn Cameras in a Correctional Setting: Assessing Jail Deputy Attitudes Before, During, and After Implementation

Can body-worn cameras reduce injuries during response-to-resistance events in a jail setting? Results from a randomized controlled trial

“…However, our measure of "safety" was based solely on resident outcomes. In an accompanying study, we found that LCADC deputies' perceptions of safety did not improve after being equipped with BWCs (Peterson et al, 2023; see also Sydes et al, 2022). Thus, while BWCs may lead to COs using less force overall, it is unclear if they are improving or otherwise impacting CO culture.…”

“…Despite their potential and their expanding use in the field, there have been no studies to date on the impact of BWCs on mitigating use-of-force incidents and subsequent injuries in correctional settings. Currently, the only academic research on BWCs in prison or jail settings has focused on the perceptions of and support for these devices among COs (Beales & Marsh, 2016;Dodd, Antrobus, & Sydes, 2020Peterson et al, 2023;Sydes, Dodd, & Antrobus, 2022). Yet we can ascertain the potential impact of cameras on critical correctional outcomes by examining research from the field of law enforcement.…”

“…This was particularly evident when these deputies observed SOT deputies wearing BWCs, often prompting them to defer to the SOT deputy to lead an interaction with a resident, even if they had originally been responsible for the event. The LCADC did not obtain perspectives about facility-wide deployment of BWCs from deputies outside of the SOT before they launched this program (however, see Peterson et al [2023] for our examination of deputy perspective during the study period). Nonetheless, the LCADC felt the pilot BWC deployment was a success and aimed to release BWCs facility-wide in 2020.…”