Effect Of Body-Worn Cameras On African-American Perceptions Of Police Performance And Fairness

Abstract

This research study examined the effect of body-worn cameras on African American perceptions of police performance and fairness to gain a well-rounded understanding of the public's perception of body-worn cameras. Prior research involving police body-worn cameras focused on police use of force and community perceptions. Limitations within previous research call for further investigation into African American perceptions of the police and consider the role body-worn cameras play in affecting that perception. Using procedural justice theory, I focused on body-worn cameras and their effect on African-American perceptions of police performance and fairness. Employing a quantitative, non-experimental research design and surveying 124 African-American adult participants 18 years and older, I found that African-Americans favor police officers who wear body-worn cameras. Future research suggests incorporating a greater sample size, thereby strengthening the validity and improving generalizability. Policy implications suggest that studying body-worn cameras may add additional research to the knowledge base and help law enforcement understand the relationship between police officers who wear body-worn cameras and African-Americans perceptions of police treatment when body-worn cameras are present. Keywords: African-American, body-worn cameras, police performance, fairness, procedural justice