Can body-worn cameras reduce injuries during response-to-resistance events in a jail setting? Results from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

PurposeInvestigate the effect of body-worn cameras (BWCs) on jail resident injuries during response-to-resistance (RTR) events. MethodsOne-year randomized controlled trial among 12 housing units in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in Virginia. Negative binomial regression investigated the effects of BWCs on jail resident injuries during RTRs, and logistic regression predicted whether RTRs result in an injury. ResultsA 58% reduction in predicted injuries in unit-months where jail deputies were assigned BWCs, corresponding to an average of 0.17 resident injuries in unit-months without cameras and 0.07 injuries in unit-months with cameras. BWCs also reduced the likelihood of injury occurring by a factor of 0.12 (injuries occurred in 28.4% of RTRs without BWCs, versus 8.8% of RTRs with BWCs). ConclusionsLittle is known about use-of-force incidents in prisons and jails, nor the rate at which these incidents result in injuries to incarcerated residents. Yet, in response to calls for greater transparency and accountability among criminal justice agencies, correctional administrators have increasingly turned to BWCs to address these issues and enhance the safety and security of their staff and resident populations. This study addresses critical knowledge gaps and offers one of the first tests of a correctional BWC program.