The Effects of Body-Worn Cameras on Officer Training, Report Writing, Discretion, and Officer-Initiated Enforcement

This research addressed police officers' perceptions of body-worn cameras and how the technology impacted their assigned responsibilities. The research allowed police officers to discuss their personal experiences with a device geared to provide law enforcement transparency and accountability. This qualitative study was guided by Smith's institutional theory, in which organizations strive to attain and maintain legitimacy within the communities they serve. Under the institutional theory, police-issued body-worn cameras (BWCs) have become the latest technological gadget, allowing transparency in law enforcement encounters with citizens. The methodology used was a qualitative research approach to capture data until saturation was met. Patrol officers from municipal police departments in Passaic County (NJ) responded to 17 open-ended questions via Zoom interviews. Study participants were required to be employed as police officers before and after the deployment of body-worn cameras. Data were analyzed using NVivo 14 computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software. Four major themes emerged addressing the research questions and questionnaire that include (a) awareness of BWC usage, (b) officer professionalism while interacting with civilians, (c) having accurate records for reports and evidence, and (d) the benefits of BWC for improving officers’ profession.