Statistics about Body Cameras and In-Car Video Systems

Statistics about Body Cameras and In-Car Video Systems

• This presentation is a compilation of statistics pertaining to the use of body cameras and in-car video systems by law enforcement agencies.

• Sources will be listed at the end of the presentation, unless otherwise noted.

Body Cameras

• In 2013, the Police Executive Research Forum ("PERF") conducted a survey among departments regarding the use of body cameras. The purpose of the survey was to measure usage of body cameras across the country and identify the major issues associated with such use. Out of the 500 agencies that received survey invitations, only 254 agencies responded—a 50% response rate.

• The survey provided the following results:

• Of the 254 responding agencies, 75% do not currently use body cameras.

• Of the 254 responding agencies, only 63 agencies (25%) currently use body cameras.

• Nearly one-third of agencies that use body cameras do not possess written policies.

• A BrickHouse Security survey found more than 72% of respondents support body cameras, which holds up with other polls around the country.

Body Cameras – The Rialto Study

• The major findings of the Rialto Study are as follows:• Use of body cameras reduced use-of-force

incidents by 59%

• Use of body cameras reduced citizens’ complaints by 87.5%

Body Cameras – The Rialto Study

Body Cameras – The Rialto Study

Body Cameras – Saving Money on Litigation

• The Rialto Study states that one motivation to conduct this study was to save money on litigation costs and the expenses associated with incidents involving use-of-force and citizens’ complaints. Both justified and frivolous complaints against the police cost a great deal of money in terms of both jury verdicts and out-of-court settlements.

• The City of Rialto recognized that investigating these incidents was also resource-intensive, not to mention the social and moral costs involved in such use-of-force incidents. The Rialto Study cited to various statistics to support its claim that the body cameras would reduce litigation costs. The study points to a report that the “UK Metropolitan Police have spent £9M in six years in compensation to settle 915 complaints over police actions (BBC, 11 May 2012) – or about £10,000 per complaint.”

Body Cameras – Saving Money on Litigation

• In New York City, a report from the city's public advocate found that outfitting the entire police department with body cameras would cost around $33 million. But in 2013, the city paid $152 million as a result of claims of police misconduct. If body cameras could reduce those claims by just one-fifth, the devices would pay for themselves.

Body Cameras – Complaints

• The Albuquerque Police Department’s most recent annual report shows there have been 598 citizens’ complaints investigated by the department between 2011 and 2014 and in nearly 74% of those cases, the police determined the allegations were “unfounded,” “not sustained,” or the officers were exonerated.

• In San Diego, based on preliminary statistics gathered for 2014 and January 2015, complaints have fallen 40.5%, use of “personal body" force by officers has been reduced by 46.5% and use of pepper spray by 30.5%, according to the report developed by the San Diego Police Department for the City Council's Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee.

In-Car Video Systems

• About 61% of local police departments used dashboard cameras in 2007, the latest year of available data, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

• Officers who believe that their department reviews their tapes periodically are more likely to improve their level of courtesy.

• In-car cameras not only impact the officers’ performance, they also modify the behavior of the citizens being stopped. A bivariate correlation test demonstrates that officers reporting contact with citizens were less aggressive when cameras are present also reported an improvement in their courtesy. Of the officers who reported citizens becoming less aggressive, 26% reported being more courteous versus the 14% who reported that they have not observed a reduction in aggressive behavior during their contact with citizens.

In-Car Video Systems

• A majority of agencies using [in-car] cameras reported a higher number of exonerations when there was video evidence of the incident. Internal affairs sections also recognized the value of the in-car cameras. They found that following installation, an increasing number of cases were resolved or dealt with at the first line supervisor level rather than being forwarded to their office for formal investigations.

In-Car Video Systems

In-Car Video Systems

Negotiating with Unions

• How does an agency effectively negotiate with union representatives who may be concerned with negative aspects of the cameras use? The following facts may be useful:• In 93% of the time a complaint is filed regarding police conduct and there is

video evidence available, the officer is exonerated.

• The officer is provided with a tool that can enhance their individual performance through self-critique.

• The overwhelming majority of officers having used in-car camera systems do not wish to patrol without them.

• In the worst-case scenario, the camera must speak for the officer who cannot speak for him/herself.

• When all the facts are taken into consideration, the rumors and fears begin to fade.

Sources

• http://www.parsac.org/parsac-www/pdf/Bulletins/14-005_Report_BODY_WORN_CAMERAS.pdf

• http://fusion.net/story/31986/investigation-of-5-cities-finds-body-cameras-usually-help-police/

• http://www.vox.com/2014/9/17/6113045/police-worn-body-cameras-explained

• http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/chest-and-dash-cams-ferguson-police-abuse

• http://www.theiacp.org/portals/0/pdfs/IACPIn-CarCameraReport.pdf

• http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-body-cameras-20150318-story.html