Body Cameras and Police Accountability: A Critical Review
Body-worn cameras were heralded as a panacea for law enforcement misconduct, yet their efficacy remains contested within law justice scholarship. While these devices provide objective visual evidence, their impact on police accountability: a critical review reveals significant procedural loopholes. Specifically, discretionary activation policies allow officers to bypass oversight by leaving cameras off during contentious encounters. Furthermore, restrictive public access to footage often obscures transparency rather than enhancing it. Consequently, while body cameras offer a technological framework for reform, they cannot ensure systemic integrity without rigorous legal mandates that prioritize public disclosure over institutional protection.