Wearing body cameras increases assaults against officers and does not reduce police use of force: Results from a global multi-site experiment

Ariel, Barak; Sutherland, Alex; Henstock, Darren; Young, Josh; Drover, Paul; Sykes, Jayne; Megicks, Simon; Henderson, Ryan

doi:10.1177/1477370816643734

Cited by 175 publications

(168 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The results of these studies vary. The findings from three studies seem to show that wearing BWCs increases assaults on officers (Ariel et al., , [although these assaults did not always lead to injury]; Toronto Police Service, ). Ariel et al.…”

Section: Impact Of Body‐worn Cameras On Citizen Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on body‐worn cameras

Lum

Stoltz

Koper

et al. 2019

Criminology & Public Policy

265

175

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Research Summary In this article, we provide the most comprehensive narrative review to date of the research evidence base for body‐worn cameras (BWCs). Seventy empirical studies of BWCs were examined covering the impact of cameras on officer behavior, officer perceptions, citizen behavior, citizen perceptions, police investigations, and police organizations. Although officers and citizens are generally supportive of BWC use, BWCs have not had statistically significant or consistent effects on most measures of officer and citizen behavior or citizens’ views of police. Expectations and concerns surrounding BWCs among police leaders and citizens have not yet been realized by and large in the ways anticipated by each. Additionally, despite the large growth in BWC research, there continues to be a lacuna of knowledge on the impact that BWCs have on police organizations and police–citizen relationships more generally. Policy Implications Regardless of the evidence‐base, BWCs have already rapidly diffused into law enforcement, and many agencies will continue to adopt them. Policy implications from available evidence are not clear‐cut, but most likely BWCs will not be an easy panacea for improving police performance, accountability, and relationships with citizens. To maximize the positive impacts of BWCs, police and researchers will need to give more attention to the ways and contexts (organizational and community) in which BWCs are most beneficial or harmful. They will also need to address how BWCs can be used in police training, management, and internal investigations to achieve more fundamental organizational changes with the long‐term potential to improve police performance, accountability, and legitimacy in the community.

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Section: Impact Of Body‐worn Cameras On Citizen Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on body‐worn cameras

Lum

Stoltz

Koper

et al. 2019

Criminology & Public Policy

265

175

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ariel and colleagues () reported mixed findings across ten studies, resulting in an overall null effect on use of force. They also found a troubling link between BWCs and increased rates of assaults on officers (Ariel et al., ). Ariel et al.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ariel et al. () found a troubling link between BWCs and increased rates of assaults on officers. In August 2016, the Boston police union sought a court injunction to stop the department leadership from creating a BWC program (Levenson and Allen, ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Body‐Worn Camera Integration and Acceptance Among Police Officers, Citizens, and External Stakeholders

White

Todak

Gaub

2018

Criminology & Public Policy

107

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Research Summary We explore integration and acceptance of body‐worn cameras (BWCs) among police, citizens, and stakeholders in one jurisdiction (Tempe, AZ) that adhered to the U.S. Department of Justice's (U.S. DOJ's) BWC Implementation Guide. We assess integration and acceptance through (a) officer surveys pre‐ and postdeployment, (b) interviews with citizens who had recent police encounters, and (c) interviews with external stakeholders. We also analyze (d) officer self‐initiated contacts, (e) misdemeanor court case time to disposition, and (f) case outcomes. We found high levels of BWC acceptance across all groups. Officer proactivity remained consistent. Time‐to‐case disposition and the rate of guilty outcomes both trended in positive directions. Policy Implications Although the results of early research on BWCs showed positive impacts, the findings from recent studies have been mixed. Implementation difficulties may explain the mixed results. Planning, implementation, and management of a BWC program are complex undertakings requiring significant resources. The technology also generates controversy, so the risk of implementation failure is substantial. The findings from our study demonstrate that adherence to the U.S. DOJ BWC Implementation Guide can lead to high levels of integration and acceptance among key stakeholders.

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“…Current evidence from BWC evaluations indicates that complaints and uses of force—under certain conditions—decline after BWCs are introduced (Ariel et al., ; cf. Ariel et al., ). Therefore, upon adopting BWCs, police change their behaviors and greater procedural justice may be mediating this effect on force and complaints.…”

Section: Procedural Justice and Police Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the effects of body‐worn cameras on procedural justice in the Los Angeles Police Department*

McCluskey¹,

Uchida

Solomon

et al. 2019

Criminology

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In this article, we explore variations in procedural justice delivered in face‐to‐face encounters with citizens before and after the implementation of body‐worn cameras (BWCs). We draw on recent advances in the measurement of procedural justice using systematic social observation of police in field settings in the Los Angeles Police Department. Data collected on 555 police–citizen encounters are examined in bivariate and multivariate models exploring the primary hypothesis that BWCs affect procedural justice delivered by police directly and indirectly. Our results indicate that significant increases in procedural justice during police–citizen encounters were directly attributable to the effect of BWCs on police behavior as well as to the indirect effects on citizen disrespect and other variables. The implications for policy include explicit measurement and monitoring of procedural justice or elements such as officer discourtesy in departments adopting BWCs. Further research questions such as more detailed examination of citizens’ behavior changes under BWCs are also considered in the context of the findings.

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Wearing body cameras increases assaults against officers and does not reduce police use of force: Results from a global multi-site experiment

Cited by 175 publications

References 13 publications

Research on body‐worn cameras

Research on body‐worn cameras

Examining Body‐Worn Camera Integration and Acceptance Among Police Officers, Citizens, and External Stakeholders

Assessing the effects of body‐worn cameras on procedural justice in the Los Angeles Police Department*

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