Ten years ago, the COPS Office asked PERF to develop guidelines on police use of body-worn cameras. At the time, cameras were a relatively new technology, and there was both curiosity and anxiety about how they would be received by officers in the field. In the ten years since, many more police departments and sheriffs’ offices have started body-worn camera programs, and for most cops, it’s now an integral piece of equipment. Agencies have had the opportunity to try out a range of policies and practices.

On June 29, PERF will convene a full-day conference in Washington, DC to find out what the field has learned over the past ten years. We’ll address a range of issues, including:

• When should officers be required to turn cameras on and off?
• Which members of an agency should be required to wear cameras? Patrol? Specialized units?
• Should officers be allowed to review footage before writing reports?
• When should supervisors review camera footage?
• When should body-worn camera footage be shared with the public?
• How long should footage be stored?
• How expensive are body-worn camera programs? Have agencies found ways to save money or operate these programs more efficiently?
• Have body-worn camera programs led to any changes in the number of lawsuits settled by municipalities or the value of those settlements?
• Can camera footage be part of an agency’s early-warning system?
• How have body-worn cameras benefitted your agency?
• How are agencies using cameras to support training?
• What unexpected challenges have you faced when equipping your officers with body-worn cameras?

Law enforcement officials and professional staff directly involved with the development of body-worn camera policies are invited to Washington, DC for a one-day meeting to discuss lessons learned from ten years of experience with body-worn cameras.

Meeting Details

Thursday, June 29, 9:00-4:00

• Registration begins at 7:30
• Breakfast will be served from 8:00-9:00
• Lunch will be provided

Meeting Registration

Please register online by clicking here.

This meeting is limited to members of law enforcement, researchers, and local, state, and federal government officials. There is no charge to attend. However, seating is limited, and all participants must register in advance. Each agency or organization will be limited to two attendees.

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact PERF Senior Research Assistant Caleb Regen at [email protected].