I was surprised/bummed to learn that a large police body camera RCT in DC[1] found no significant effects on use of force, complaints, etc—& similar results in London [2]. But a Rio de Janeiro study[3] found huge impact. I wonder why so different… (links to papers in thread)
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A broader review of the literature [4] suggests that the data's pretty muddled, possibly because of discretion in when the cameras are turned on. Naively, that makes me wonder whether there's some reasonable solution for keeping them on all the time "when in the field".
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Or maybe cameras just represent an unhelpful wish for a simple technological silver bullet to a complex problem. 🤔
[1] pnas.org/content/116/21
[2] law.harvard.edu/programs/olin_
[3] povgov.com/storage/upload
[4] researchgate.net/profile/Megan_
(Found [1] via via —thanks!)
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One plausible suggestion from is that while body cameras may not move general use-of-force metrics, they can mitigate very serious infractions (e.g. body cams have caught officers planting incriminating evidence). cato.org/blog/body-came
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Hey, , I like that you’re trying to figure this out, and want to help: these problems and their solutions were identified 60 years ago, the problem and solution is whether a consequence is contingent on a police response, without conspicuous consequences no change
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I know that sounds “over simplified”, because it is, but it is also that simple:
My over arching principle:
Change appears as selection by consequences from variation.
Find solutions in the technologies of behavior and culture derived from the experimental analysis of behavior
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Then there are eventualities like this
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Breaking: Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer just announced every single officers' body camera was NOT ACTIVATED during the shooting last night that resulted in DavidMcAtee’s death. Not one.
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I don't know anything about this, but cops are surrounded by cameras whenever they are in the presence of other people. Maybe body cams add little over the general ability of the public to surveil cops?
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