The Use of Body Cameras by Law Enforcement

With a string of recent incidents involving shootings of civilians by police, the question remains as to whether our police officers should be equipped with body cameras to capture police pursuits. Some believe body cameras will improve police and civilian behavior, while others believe that body cameras will hinder a police officer’s privacy, health, and safety. On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi join Professor Eugene O’Donnell from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Dr. Tod Burke, professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Radford University, as they talk about the pros and cons of body cameras in law enforcement. We will take a look at recent events, transparency and accountability, and the impact body cameras will have on policing. Eugene O’Donnell is a professor from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is a nationally recognized expert on policing issues, including the use of force, and has been quoted in hundreds of media stories. Dr. Tod Burke is a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Radford University. Dr. Burke is also the co-author of an introductory criminal justice text titled, Foundations of Criminal Justice (second edition). Special thanks to our sponsor, Clio.