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Primer on Body-Worn Cameras for Law Enforcement (Article)

NCJ Number
242268
Date Published
September 2012
Length
2 pages
Annotation

This article describes the development of technical standard and guidance for body-worn cameras (BWCs).

Abstract

According to a primer on Body-Worn Cameras for Law Enforcement by the Sensor, Surveillance and Biometric Technologies Center of Excellence (SSBT CoE), BWCs can play an important role as an officer's technological partner, faithfully capturing what the officer sees and hears. Attached to items such as helmets, glasses or badges, or riding snugly in a shirt pocket, they can provide valuable evidence in situations related to emergency response, self-initiated public contacts and routine patrol. This primer addresses issues such as management and storage of evidence and records, implications for the court system and the need for training. It covers BWC types, reasons for adopting the technology, and implementation issues, and includes a listing of reference materials and the results of a market survey.