The Influence of Culture on Body-Worn Cameras: An Exploratory Study of Pennsylvania Police
Open Access
- Author:
- Staley, Brian
- Graduate Program:
- Criminal Justice
- Degree:
- Master of Arts
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- October 24, 2018
- Committee Members:
- Jennifer Catherine Gibbs, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Donald Charles Hummer II, Committee Member
Siyu Liu, Committee Member - Keywords:
- body-worn cameras
police culture - Abstract:
- Graphic images capturing police officers engaged in use of force incidents against citizens shared with millions of other people through social media has contributed to feelings of public distrust of its police among many groups within the country. Demands calling for the use of police body-worn cameras (BWC) has rapidly spread across the country as the preferred response to police reform. Similar to other forms of mobile technology like license plate readers and dash cameras, BWC policy is likely to be shaped by the existing climate and police culture in which the agency functions. It is important to understand the relationship between the police culture and its influence on BWC policy to predict its potential effectiveness as a means of reform. Through an online survey, this thesis queried a sample of 92 Pennsylvania police departments about their agencies’ culture and the current climate and its influence on BWC policy. The results indicate that despite the current climate departmental culture has had a nominal effect on the implementation of BWC. Despite a supportive legislative, social, organizational environment aimed at facilitating the implementation of BWC, police departments using the devices across the Commonwealth have not exponentially increased. Administrative internal policies requiring officers to use BWC to improve public trust and accountability has also not hastened the adoption of BWC. An evaluation pertaining to the agency’s mission has also not directly influenced the adoption of BWC policy. The cost of the cameras and unfunded mandates are possible explanations for its slowed implementation. This exploratory study offers insight into the current climate and the influence of police culture on BWC policy.