Part 9/12:
The introduction of body cameras was heralded as a means to increase accountability. However, studies show mixed results, especially without proper regulation. Many departments do not release footage routinely, and officers may record only a fraction of civilian encounters. For example, in Phoenix, officers' capturing of civilian interactions dropped from nearly 100% to less than 14% within a year. Without transparent policies on footage release, body cameras often fail to serve their intended purpose.
Recent Policy Changes and Their Impact
Protests and public pressure have begun to yield concrete policy reforms at various levels of government. Noteworthy examples include: