1. Running Head: TECH REDUCES CRIME 1
Technology Reduces Crime
Christopher Kemmett
SOC 305: Crime & Society
Instructor Raqota Berger
March 20, 2015

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Abstract
Withfurtherintegrationof more advancedtechnologiesintothe infrastructure of the criminal justice
system,crime ingeneral decreases. Thispaperfocusesonthe encouragementof implementingvideo
and audiorecordingtechnology intothe uniformsof policeofficersandsimilarpolicyenforcement
officials. Technology’ssuchasvideomonitoringhasproventobe a more reliable formof testimonyand
intermediaryforinvestigatingandtranslatingpasteventsintothe presentwithsuperioraccuracyto
humantestimony. Suchintegrationswillresultinfewerpreventable deathsandinjurytopolice officers
and citizen’salike,tentativelyextendingsociety’shealthylongevityandamplifyingthe currentethical
conditionof society.

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Technology Reduces Crime
Introduction.
Accountability,beyondthe issue andindividual(s) involvedisthe strongestinfluencerupon
ethical decisionmaking. The mostunethical decisions,whichmayresultinpolice brutalityorviolence
againstpolice,partlystemfromthe lackof accountabilitysurroundingone’sactions. Peopletendto
rememberthingsfromthe pointof view relative totheirintentions,whichare highlysusceptible tobias,
whennotcheckedbya thirdparty suchas videosurveillance. The lackof video/audiosurveillance upon
every governmentofficial while performingacriminal investigationorpolicyrelatedsituationresultsin
a higherprobabilityof eachpartyinvolvedtoact as if theyare lessaccountable tothe lawsof the justice
system. Mandatingpolice officerstoinclude “BodyWornVideo”(BWV) asadailyuniformaccessorywill
reduce violence againstand frompolice officers;aswell asenhance ethical decisionmakingbetweenall
partiesincontact withpolice officersincludingpolice officers.
Research.
A studyfromBeu,Buckley& Harveystates,“if individualsface anaccountingfromanaudience
whose expectationsare differentfromtheirown,theywill conformtothe extentthatthe evaluatorhas
more status or ismore powerful”(Beu,Buckley&Harvey,2003). Thisis whysurveillance onthe jobisso
importantandwhyeverypolice officerandcitizen interactingwiththemshouldalwaysbe knowledgably
monitored. Police officersandcitizensalike,whenincontact,will be underthe active influence of
possible judicial, jury,andpublicoversight:thiswill alterthe current perceptionof police officersfrom
the community,raisingthe ethical standardwhile strengtheningthe bondbetweensocietyandlaw
enforcement. The BWV will undoubtedlyleadtomore accountability,wheninfactactionsresultin
criminal behavior. Beu,Buckley&Harveyalsonote that individualsdirectlyheldaccountableare most

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likelytoactethical andthose unaccountable are leastlikelytoparticipate inethical decisionmaking
(Beu,Buckley&Harvey,2003).
Police are distrusteddue tothe contraryperspectivesand speculationssurroundingviolentand
deadlyinteractionsbetween the police andthe community. The endproduct isa lackof securityand
actual freedomwiththe implicationsof possibleunmeritedviolentbehaviorfrompolice andcitizens.
Law abidingcitizensare susceptible topolice brutalityandpreventabledeathbythe handsof over
ambitiouspolice andunlawful actsbypolice. Whenissuesof questionarise,police are oftennot
criminallychargedandif charged,notconvicted,andif convictedgiven lightersentencesthan their
citizencounterparts. The use of BWV will explainthe processof suchquestionable eventsmore
accuratelythan everbefore,andwithoutquestionexplaintothe publicwhatreallyhappened.
Criminalsare alsomore violentand lesswillingtocooperate whennotundersurveillance. This
createsa more dangerousenvironmentforpolice officersandothermembersof society. Police officers
are indangerof more resistant, lesscooperative suspects,whomare more confrontational due tothe
lack of trust inthe community. Withoutconstantvideosurveillance criminalsare more likelytobe
violentandmake threats,andthe uninformedcommunityremainsof speculativeformlackingthe
powerful truthsBWV can make available. All of these actionsby criminalsare linkedtothe ethical
decisionmakingprocess,whichlacksthirdpartyoversight andthe guarantee of longtermaccountability
suppliedbyaudio-videosurveillance (resultingfromBWV).
In Ferguson,MOin 2014 - a Michael Brownwas killedbyapolice officer,resultinginpublic
outcry andmoral panic. There was novideoof the incident,several conflictingstoriesof the incident
arose,and eventuallynoarrestorindictmentof the police officer wasmade (Lowery,Kindy&Markon,
2014). However,the dominoeffectof moral paniccontinuedformonthsandstill the effectsof policies
allowingmilitaryvehiclesandweaponsonthe suburbanstreetsof Americaisbeingdebatedasthe

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publicresponds. Thisisperfect example of whymoral panicmustbe avoided,Collica&Furstdescribe
moral panic as an eventthatincitespoorpolicymakingandgovernmentresponsewhichresultsin
furtherescalatedproblems(Collica&Furst,2012). WithBWV, the dissertationof Michael Brown’s
killingwouldlikelybe resoluteandabsolute withinminimaltime constraints allowingforanymajor
disruptionsinsociety. The likelihoodof suchsocial anxietyarisingandsustainingasinFerguson,which
incitedriotsandlooting,willbe far lesserof a riskif BWV isavailable.
Alsoin2014, Eric Garner waskilledbyapolice officerwhichshortlyfollowedthe eventsin
Ferguson,amplifyingthe moral panicacrossthe countryand devaluingthe trustbetweenpolice andthe
citizens. Incidentallythere wasaclipof videofromthe Garner incident,butitlackedthe full storyand
didnot showthe entire sequenceof events;bothpartieswere notaware of the video(Young,2014).
WithBWV, the officer’sactionsinapproachingthe suspectwould likelyhave beenmore ethical,
meaningagentlerandlessaggressive seriesof actions.
The arrest processoften conjures violentbehaviorandthe recordingof these eventsare usually
called“resistingarrest”. BWV piloted in California has demonstrated a59% reductioninviolent
behaviortowardspolice officerssincethe implementationof BWV (Marks,2013). The UnitedKingdom
has implementedBWV forsome time andshow massive differencesinthe arrestandconvictionprocess
due to the videosurveillancewornonpolice officers (Marks,2013). “The Police HeadCameraProject”
studiedthe differenteffectsof BWV inthe UK anddiscovered81% of crime victimsfeltsaferbecause of
the technology(White,2014). Perhaps,the mostsubstantial effectsof BWV are the reducedamountsof
complaintsandincrease inguiltypleaswhichbothresultinlesspaperworkandmore active dutyto
enforce crime. Michael White,whosubmittedthe mostrecentreporttoDOJ onBWV, reportedstudies
across the globe showedthis trend(White,2014).

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Since the outcry overpolice brutality in2014, PresidentObamahasmade 75 milliondollars
available forresearchandcoordinatedtrainingfordepartmentsthatwishtopilotBWV (The Associated
Press,2014). Stateslike Californiawhohave voluntarilyimplementedthistechnologywillbe able to
coordinate withthisFederal programandhope forresultssimilartoCaliforniaandthe UK. California
has showna 60% reductioninthe use of police force and75% reductionincomplaintsof violence from
police bythose officersutilizingBWV (DOJ,2014). There isa necessaryburdenof beingthe firstorone
of the firstto implementsuchanewtechnologysocloselyintoasociety,andperhapsthe American
governmentisbeingprecautionary initsapproachtoBWV.
In the State of NewYorkthere is the largestpolice force inAmerica, whichisnow undergoinga
retrainingprocesssince the deathof EricGarner (Santora,2014). Also,inFerguson,MO the police
departmenthasgone througha retrainingprocess andthe cityhas implementedanew youthoutreach
program inresponse tothe publicoutcry(Lowery,2015). Unfortunately,ona State or Federal level
there isno legislationinprocesstomandate BWV as a resultof these incidentsnorothers. The Federal
program forBWV iscurrentlyan experimentalprogram, lackingthe thrustandvigorto cause for any
national change inviolence statistics. There are alsono BWV programs active inthe two locations
where the mostrecentmoral panichas struck. The major pushinthe mediahasbeenfor“retraining”,
supportingthe ideathatAmerica’spolice departmentslackintelligence andresponsibility,thus
increasingthe distrustof police.
Accordingto some executivesinpolicing,the use of BWV will cause problemsforthe
investigatorsandpolice officers. Claimsare beingmade thatBWV will determanywitnessesfrom
comingforwardand discourage confidential informantsfromcooperatingwithpolice officers(DOJ,
2014). There isno supportedevidenceof these claims,althoughitwouldseemasense of confidentiality
will be lostwhendealingwithcamerasona regularbasis. There of course,can be certainvideos
classifiedasconfidential andevenfurtherclassificationssuchas“secret”if an individual’ssafetyis

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thoughtto be in jeopardydue totheircooperation. Thisprocessisnotanew forlaw enforcementand
will notrequire anyfurthertrainingonhandlingsensitivematerialsandinformation.
Havingmore cameras insocietyingeneral,meanslessprivacy. The more camerason the street
the more hours of videoandmore susceptible citizensare toprivacyinvasion. Although,policeofficers
will be routinelyoperatinginpublic;andprivate settingsshouldnotbe intrudeduponwithout a
warrant,therefore anyprivacylostisrestrainedtothe public environment. Thisof course will amplify
the feelingof governmentcontrol andaccountability forone’sactions - forpolice officersandcitizens
alike. Privacyisconsideredamajorcore elementof freedom. Societywillbe saferasa resultof BWV,
but a lessfree societywill ensueunderthisconceptualization. Lessfree toexpressoneself inpublic,and
lessfree tocommitcriminal actsin public.
The problemof police brutalityandviolence againstpolice is acommunity/government
relational problem. The perceptionof unaccountability whichcurrentlyexists mustbe overcome,and
for the future we can onlyalterthe infrastructure whichhasproventobe unsuccessful inconvictingand
preventingmanyviolentacts. The use of “Body Worn Video”willundoubtedlyrestorethe publics’
dissentionof police officersandunlawful behaviorgoingunpunished. The full implementationof BWV
across the nation will resultinmassive amountsof reducedviolence againstpolice,supportedby
evidence incurrentpilotprogramsaswell asinternational mocksystems. Withoutthe mandate of BWV
for all police departmentofficers,there willsurelybe alarge groupof departmentsoptingoutrather
than in,due to the cost of funds and a varietyof reasonsleadingtothe extended implicationsof
unethical behaviorwhichpersists.
Conclusion& Summary.
The Federal response fromPresidentObamahasallocatedthree times the amountof funds to
retrainingprograms thanfor BWV programs, whichhave not provensuccessful inthe past. BWV has a

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track record of reducingcrime,speedingupthe convictionprocessandpreventingdeathandinjury.
Therefore the full mandate of BWV ratherthana small stepof encouragementisneeded. Itisclearthe
Federal governmentisfocusingmore onretrainingthanBWV,whichcouldreflectthe abilityof Federal
governmentto reachall departmentsacrossthe nationwithsome change. The cost to retrainofficersin
handlingsuspectsandcitizenscostsfar lessthanequippingandtrainingwithnew videotechnology.
There isclearlya needforState and local level fundingsupportforBWV programs. Although,the costof
BWV shouldnotdiscredit the realityregardingthe strengthin overallsolvencymade availablewiththe
technology. The costs of audio-videoequipmenthave decreaseddrasticallyinrecenttimes,inparallel
developmentwiththe growinginternetnetworkandtechnologyinfrastructurearoundthe country.
There isa more than acceptable readinessandneedforBWV,whichshouldintegrate smoothlyand
complimentaryintothe Americaninfrastructure.
Collectively,the researchdiscussedinthispaperleadtothe absolute reckoningof a real and
demandingsocial problemsurroundingpolice distrustandexposesagapbetweenthe evolutionof
technologyandjudicial system. The effectsof thisrealitycanbe exploredthroughseveral recentevents
whichresultedinmoral panicthroughoutthe UnitedStates,suchasin Ferguson,Moand New York,NY.
Evidence frompilotedprogramsacrossthe U.S., especiallyCalifornia,giveasuccessful andhopeful
suretythat “BodyWorn Video”will prove tobe apeacemakerbetweenthe U.S.citizensand
government. Currentgovernmentactionsemphasize more valueonretrainingthanimproving
infrastructure,andpoliciessuchasthose allowingmilitarylevellaw enforcementhave proven
ineffectivein dissolvingpolicedistrustand conjuringviolence. Itisclear thatmandatingBWV will result
ina safercommunity,whichmeanssaferpolice officersandcitizens. Inaddition,the level of moralityin
Americawill increase. Inconclusion,the researchof BWV explainsthe opportunitysocietyhasto
implementthe powerof technologyfurtherintoAmericaninfrastructure,whichwill reduce violence and
increase ethical decisionmaking.

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References
Beu,D., Buckley,M.,& Harvey,M. (2003). Ethical decision–making:amultidimensional construct.
BusinessEthics: A European Review,12(1), 88-107.
Collica,K.& Furst,G. (2012). Crime & society.SanDiego,CA:BridgepointEducation,Inc.
Departmentof Justice,(2014) Implementing thebody-worn camera program. Retrievedfrom
http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/472014912134715246869.pdf
Lowery,W.,Kindy,K.,& Markon, J.(2014). Ferguson policeofficer won'tbecharged in fatalshooting.
The WashingtonPost. Retrievedfrom http://search.proquest.com.proxy-
library.ashford.edu/docview/1627906982
Lowery,W. (2015, Mar. 4) Ferguson mayordoesn’tsay if police chief will stay following scathing DOJ
report.The WashingtonPost.Retrievedfrom http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-
nation/wp/2015/03/04/ferguson-mayor-doesnt-say-if-police-chief-will-stay-following-scathing-
doj-report/
Marks, P. (2013). Police,camera,action. New Scientist,220 (2940), 21-22.
Santora,M. (2014). Mayor de BlasioAnnouncesRetrainingof New YorkPolice. TheNew YorkTimes.
The AssociatedPress(2014, Dec. 1) Obama announces$75Mfor police body camerasin wakeof
ferguson shooting.Retrievedfromhttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-hold-
white-house-meetings-ferguson-article-1.2028770
White,M. (2014) Police officerbody-worncameras. Retrievedfrom
https://ojpdiagnosticcenter.org/sites/default/files/spotlight/download/Police%20Officer%20Bo
dy-Worn%20Cameras.pdf

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Young,M. (2014). New Yorkpolice officernotcharged in the death of Eric Garner. CBCRadio,