Body Worn Cameras

Recent use-of-force events have led law enforcement agencies, citizens, civil rights groups, and city councils to push for the rapid adoption of body-worn camera (BWC) technology. Within less than a decade, BWCs have transformed from a technology that received little attention by many police leaders and scholars to one that has become rapidly prioritized, funded, and diffused into local policing. Below are the reports on this subject by faculty from the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy.

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Lum, C., Koper, C.S., Wilson, D.B., et al. (2020). Body‐worn cameras’ effects on police officers and citizen behavior: A systematic review. This is the most up-to-date meta-analysis and systematic review on experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations of the impacts of body worn cameras on police and citizen behaviors.

Full Review
Plain Language Summary
December 1, 2020 Webinar on this systematic review

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Lum, C., Stoltz, M., Koper, C., & Scherer, J.A. (2019). Research on body-worn cameras: What we know, what we need to know. Criminology & Public Policy, 18(1), 93-118. This is the most comprehensive narrative review conducted on BWCs to date, covering over 70 studies. See the press release for this study here. 

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L. Merola, C. Lum, C.S. Koper, and A. Scherer (2016).Body Worn Cameras and the Courts: A National Survey of State Prosecutors. This report by Merola et al. for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation documents a national survey of state prosecutors regarding their views on Body Worn Cameras.

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C. Lum, C.S. Koper, L. Merola, A. Scherer and A. Rieoux (2015). Existing and Ongoing Body Worn Camera Research: Knowledge Gaps and Opportunities. This report by Lum et al. for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation documents all existing AND ongoing research on BWC as of December 2015. Research questions for each of the 42 studies found are categorized and mapped, identifying areas where more research is needed. Note: This research assessment will be updated periodically on this site as new research is developed.

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