A first-of-its-kind, year-long study by the University of South Florida and the Orlando Police Department has found that body-worn cameras are an effective tool for reducing "response-to-resistance incidents" and serious external complaints.
The study, which ran from March 2014 to February, had 46 officers using cameras and compared that with 43 other officers who did not. Continue…
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Read More… from Police body cameras reduce use of force, study finds
Sixteen Minnesota cities have asked the state to declare most information gathered by police bodies cameras in way too many instances as private information.
The reason for the request: The state legislature has been unable to decide what is public information on video and audio gathered by police body cameras, in large part because it is a very complex issue. Continue…
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Read More… from Editorial: Reject request to make all police body camera data private in Minnesota
As police departments across the country equip their officers with body cameras, many are struggling to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and privacy protections.
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Read More… from States grapple with public disclosure of police body-camera footage
On the streets of the nation’s capital, during a summer crimewave that has wrought more than 100 homicides, a police body camera “experiment” is taking place.
A contentious debate surrounding the city’s 2016 budget may dictate how this experimental program evolves, however — providing what could be seen as a rough model for implementation in other cities. Continue…
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Read More… from Police body camera debate heats up as mayor calls for $5.4M
An Atlanta-based technology company, Utility Associates, Inc., today announced it has unveiled a state-of-the-art software that will blur-out faces and personally identifiable markings such as body tattoos to protect the privacy and identity of victims, innocent bystanders, minors and undercover police officers in police In-Car and Body-Worn video.
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Read More… from ‘Smart Redaction’ for police body-worn video
Civil liberties groups in Iowa and other states support police use of body cameras because of a perception the videos would increase accountability for law enforcement and the public.
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Read More… from Keep police body camera video secret, state urges to Iowa Public Information Board
The D.C. Open Government Coalition called on Mayor Muriel Bowser to rewrite her administration's proposed legislation and regulations governing public access to police body worn camera videos. Because of the importance of public access to the goals we share of transparency generally, and police accountability in particular, the coalition asks that you reconsider the plan, which does not include recommendations of the advisory group the City Council established to help draft public access rules.
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Read More… from EDITORIAL: Groups seek body cam rules rewrite
ANNOUNCMENT: The Newseum will host a Sept. 16 panel discussion to examine the various ways in which U.S. cities and states are incorporating police body cameras to hold officers accountable and build public trust.
Panelists will also discuss the future of police body cameras in the District of Columbia. The event is free to the public, but registration is required. Continue…
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While recent decisions and court findings have clarified what records can be requested under Pennsylvania's Right-To-Know law, the state's open records chief said there are still some unanswered questions.
Erik Arneson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, spoke to reporters Thursday on a wide variety of topics and issues. Continue>>>
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The D.C. Open Government Coalition (DCOGC) July 27 released a comprehensive look at how each state and 15 of the largest cities are addressing through legislation and policies key issues surrounding implementation of police body cameras. This report is the first to compile a panoply of legislation, policies, regulations and current law into a single, easily accessible and reviewable document.
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Read More… from Washington DC: Coalition publishes nationwide body cam access report
