Body Worn Cameras - Research Underway at NIJ

NIJ is funding and reporting research on the evolving science and technology of body-worn cameras as well as issues in its deployment in law enforcement. NIJ is collaborating with the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in examining the features and appropriate uses of body-worn cameras, not only for the benefit of law enforcement agencies, but also for citizens who are affected by how law enforcement uses technology to improve public safety. In 2012, NIJ published the Primer on Body-Worn Cameras for Law Enforcement. This is an introduction to body-worn camera systems, highlighting the functions and features of various types of cameras. It also provides information important for officials who are considering the purchase and deployment of the cameras. NIJ supported two studies that focused on body-worn cameras. One funded in 2013 examined the impact of these cameras as they are used by 400 officers in the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. Researchers are studying a number of issues, including how body-worn cameras are impacting police-citizen encounters and officer compliance with departmental policy on their use. A second NIJ-funded study begun in 2014 is an effort by the Los Angeles Police Foundation to study the impact of body-worn camera technology in the work of the Los Angeles Police Department.