Future Use

          In an article involving the Elgin Police Department, it is said that the “…body cameras can help strengthen and enhance transparency and accountability in the police department.” They will likely be useful in the future when the kinks are all worked out, however, they are not the all-around solution to policing problems.

Ethical and Social Implications

         Ethics involved with the issue of police-worn body cameras involve the privacy of citizens and others captured during recording and the issue of officers deciding whether or not to turn on or off the camera. Social issues that may arise could involve distrust of the community, and added hostility towards police.

Security

         Security of citizen privacy and security of body camera footage are two different aspects that are important to this topic. Security of footage can add to the overall cost of department use of body cameras. Security and storage may also involve a third-party service.

Current Use

        According to VIEVU, a company that producing body-worn cameras and other goods, an estimated 15% of police agencies use body cameras. Police Chief James Stewart of the Anderson, South Carolina Police Department revealed that out of 102 officers in his department, 62 of them are outfitted with body cameras.

Introduction

         Cameras have been at the forefront of numerous recent police-involved shootings across the country. In many cases, incidents were recorded by citizens and bystanders on smartphone or video cameras. Less often, the incidents were recorded on police-worn body cameras.