Explain whether or not police body cams are effective. What are the privacy concerns for police officers, third parties, and suspects? What are the...

Various studies have shown that police body
cameras do increase the safety of both public and police. For instance, a study by the
University of Nevada published in Forensic Magazine in November 2017 reported a 37% reduction in
the number of police officers involved in use of force incidents following the introduction of
body cameras by Las Vegas police. The cameras can also protect officers from false allegations
of misconduct, and exemplary policing can be captured and used for training purposes. There is
also strong public support for police body cameras in most communities.

However, there are concerns that body cameras may invade the privacy of witnesses,
victims, suspects, and others involved in crimes. Dr. Frank G. Straub of the National Police
Foundation has pointed out that:

Every day we are exposing
persons challenged by mental illness, autism, developmental disabilities, addiction, etc. We are
creating and making public recordings of their illness and potentially creating life-long
consequences.

Body cameras may also inhibit potential
witnesses from giving information to police.

Police body cameras are also
very expensive. The cost of the cameras themselves can be very high, but forces must also budget
for training, data storage and maintenance costs, as well as extra staff to manage the data. The
legislation surrounding the use of body cameras can also be confusing, as it varies from state
to state. Body cameras have also sometimes proved unreliable, particularly with respect to
switching them on and off. This can result in vital evidence being lost or privacy being
unintentionally invaded.