Officer Receptivity to Body-Worn Cameras

Abstract

Abstract The growing public outrage in the USA and elsewhere over police-related deaths of people of colour has intensified the debate over body-worn cameras (BWCs). Unlike most research on officers’ experience-based acceptance of BWCs, this study examines receptivity: initial attitudes before learning whether or not they would be assigned a camera. Knowledge of receptivity is important for informing an agency’s roll-out of BWCs. It increases the likelihood of obtaining buy-in from its officers and helping to achieve positive outcomes from the technology. The analysis, based on the Technology Acceptance Model, focused on officer attitudes predicting receptivity while controlling for their demographic characteristics. Beliefs in the evidentiary value of BWCs, their role in increasing officer safety, and likely civilizing effects on community members increased receptivity significantly; fear of supervisory sanctions played no role. This article concludes with a discussion of policy implications.