Effects of officer perception of race and racial tensions on support for body-worn-cameras

Abstract

While the U.S. criminal justice system has a long history of racial injustice, the use of body-worn-cameras (BWCs) has changed the discourse on racial bias and police accountability. To date, the growing research on BWCs has yet to address the racial tensions that underly contentious interactions between police and citizenry. Using survey and interview data this research evaluates: (1) whether officer race influences perceptions of race/racism and support for BWCs; (2) whether officer perceptions of race/racism influence support for BWCs; (3) how officers perceive racial conflict within their communities; and (4) how these perceptions shape their views of the efficacy of BWCs as a means to reduce racial conflict. By tackling these important questions, this research provides the necessary context to enrich our exploration of the implications of BWCs within the broader discourse and research on race relations in policing.