Ariel 2015

Original Paper Overview

  • Title: The Effect of Police Body-Worn Cameras on Use of Force and Citizens’ Complaints Against the Police: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Authors: Barak Ariel, William A. Farrar, Alex Sutherland

  • Published: November 19, 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Abstract

  • Objective:

    • Addressing international concerns regarding police use-of-force and citizens’ complaints.

    • Investigate if body-worn cameras reduce use-of-force incidents and citizen complaints.

  • Methods:

    • Conducted a randomized-controlled trial over 12 months in Rialto, California.

    • Officers were assigned "experimental-shifts" with body-worn HD cameras and "control-shifts" without cameras (n = 988).

    • Defined use-of-force (both excessive and reasonable) as undesirable in police-public interactions.

    • Analyzed data using Poisson regression and interrupted time-series analyses.

  • Results:

    • Use-of-force incidents in control shifted were approximately double compared to those with experimental cameras.

    • Complaints decreased substantially from 0.7 to 0.07 per 1,000 contacts.

  • Keywords: Technology, Deterrence theory, Use-of-force, Police, Randomized controlled field trial, Body-worn-cameras

Introduction

  • Media Attention:

    • Police body-worn cameras viewed as a tool to reduce use-of-force and improve police legitimacy and accountability.

  • Historical Context:

    • Courts like Manhattan Federal District Court mandated body camera use to combat racial profiling.

  • Research Gap:

    • No empirical evidence existed to support the effectiveness of body-worn cameras prior to this study; most data were anecdotal.

Literature Review

Police Use-of-Force

  • Importance:

    • Understanding police power use; critical in maintaining police-community relations.

  • Definitions:

    • Excessive force: More force than necessary in a situation.

    • Unnecessary force: Use of force when none was warranted.

  • Contractual Relationship:

    • Social contract between police and citizens establishes expectations of reasonable force.

  • Implications of Misuse:

    • Misconduct leads to community distrust, increased complaints, and social costs (both economic and social).

Explaining Police Use-of-Force

  • Research Strands:

    • Situational Factors:

    • Police behavior influenced by social dynamics during encounters (e.g., demeanor of subjects).

    • Psychological Factors:

    • Personal traits of officers affect their force responses (e.g., traits like aggression).

    • Organizational Culture:

    • Institutional norms influence attitudes towards use-of-force, leading to resistance against reforms.

  • Continuum of Force:

    • Various levels of force response used depending on the circumstance, leading to complexities in defining what constitutes 'excessive' or 'unnecessary' force.

Measuring Use-of-Force

  • Challenges:

    • Definitions and operational standards for measuring use-of-force vary widely.

  • Study Statistics:

    • Reports suggest use-of-force incidents, despite being low frequency (5-10% of police contacts).

  • Documentation Flaws:

    • Underreporting and subjectivity in defining use-of-force complicate the assessment accuracy.

Citizens Complaints Against the Police

  • Complaint Systems:

    • Mechanism for evaluating police behavior through citizen reports.

  • Public Sentiment:

    • Rates of complaints reflect police-community relations.

  • Research Utilization:

    • Complaints used as metrics for evaluating police legitimacy and public perception.

Cameras as a Deterrent

Theoretical Background

  • Deterrence Theory:

    • Behavioral alteration when individuals know they're being observed.

    • Essential mechanisms include self-awareness and fear of apprehension.

Research Methods

Experimental Design

  • Population and Setting:

    • Study conducted in Rialto, California, involving its police department over a year.

    • Random assignment: 988 shifts assigned to treatment (camera) or control (no camera).

  • Operational Definitions:

    • Use-of-force and complaints were meticulously measured using standardized police data systems.

Statistical Analysis

  • Methodologies:

    • Conducted Poisson regression and interrupted time series analyses to assess impact and significance of camera use on incidents of use-of-force and citizen complaints.

Results

Use-of-Force Findings

  • Incidents Recorded:

    • Total of 25 incidents, with 8 during experimental shifts and 17 during control shifts.

    • Rate was 0.78 incidents in control conditions versus 0.33 in experimental ones.

  • Statistical Significance:

    • Significant decrease in use-of-force indicates a treatment effect significantly supported statistical analysis results (IRR = 2.08).

Citizens’ Complaints Findings

  • Complaint Reduction:

    • Complaints lowered from 24 in the pre-trial period to 3 during the trial (0.7 to 0.07 per 1,000 contacts).

    • Detected statistically significant reduction in complaints confirms overall effectiveness of body-worn cameras in relation to reported grievances.

Discussion

  • Implications:

    • Significant reduction in use-of-force incidents indicates body-worn cameras serve as effective deterrent mechanisms.

    • Possibility of behavioral spillover effect in control shifts observed.

  • Ethical Considerations:

    • Need for careful consideration regarding privacy rights and the impact of increased surveillance on community dynamics.

Conclusion

  • Findings Summary:

    • The study provides empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of body-worn cameras in reducing incidences of police use-of-force and citizens’ complaints.

  • Future Research:

    • Suggests avenues for larger-scale studies and replication across varied police departments and settings.