Body-Worn Cameras: Accountability Tool or Accountability Illusion?

Justice Speakers Institute · Mar 24, 2026

The Rise of Police Body-Worn Cameras and Public Expectations

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) were heralded as a transformative tool for police accountability. In the wake of highly publicized use-of-force incidents, particularly those involving minority communities, public confidence in law enforcement declined significantly. Policymakers and community advocates turned to technology as a means to increase transparency and restore trust.

The concept of body-worn cameras first gained traction in the United Kingdom before expanding rapidly throughout the United States. Over the last decade, most large…