Should Police Wear Body Cameras

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Police brutality can be described as police officers using more force than necessary to control a situation. It can include using excessive physical force or by the use of a weapon against civilians. Pepper spray, batons, and handguns are all weapons available to police officers. Some officers follow proper protocol when using weapons and some use weapons, in contrast leading to police brutality. A common recommendation for reducing police brutality is to increase the use of body cameras. The cameras on the police officers will be able to keep track of all the evidence from the scene of the crime. Also, the cameras will assure the accurate statement and facial recognition from the victims and witnesses. “A 2013 University of Cambridge …show more content…
Before body cameras, there were dashcams in police cars back in the 1990s and the recent years. Police departments have started using body cameras to allow the officers to record what is happening on the outside of their cars. Some states are trying to impose restrictions on which the police videos are available to the public. “Twenty –nine states are now considering legislation related to police cameras, and 15 of them are trying to limit the content the public can see” (Should Police Wear Body Cameras?). Lawmakers are trying to make all videos off-limits to the public, which defeats the purpose of the cameras. If the public aren’t allowed to view their own video then they are just left with the police version of what happened, and not always their version is accurate. Although the cameras are able to keep track of evidence and statements, the public may see the cameras as an invasion of privacy. While police cameras are own, they capture everyday civilian and police behavior that is not necessary. Citizens have expectancies to have their actions recorded in the public, but not to have their privacy home to be recorded. If a police is wearing a body camera and does a home search, the civilians privacy is being invaded