Body Worn Camera Considerations for Gender-Based Violence Incidents

 

Law enforcement agencies, including campus safety departments, have increasingly started using, or are considering the use of, body-worn cameras (BWCs). These cameras can enhance community trust and contribute to accountability, evidence collection, and transparency. Many departments require activation of BWCs during police-community encounters, but oftentimes there are no specific requirements related to incidents involving gender-based violence (GBV). While BWCs can provide helpful case evidence, it is important to recognize that their use can adversely impact victim safety and privacy, especially during GBV incidents.

Last month, AEquitas: The Prosecutors' Resource on Violence Against Women (AEquitas) held a webinar that discussed many of the issues law enforcement, prosecutors, forensic examiners, and other allied professionals must consider when BWCs are used in GBV investigations. The webinar recording is now available for viewing. The presenter, John Wilkinson, describes the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in order to develop effective BWC policies that address victim safety and autonomy. The presenter also addresses issues such as deactivation of a BWC at appropriate points during the investigation, privacy and safety considerations, discovery, redaction, protective orders limiting dissemination, and requests under freedom of information or open records statutes.

 

This month, AEquitas issued the article, " To Record or Not To Record: Use of Body-Worn Cameras During Police Response to Crimes of Violence Against Women " that examines the pros and cons of BWC use, policy considerations, and prosecution concerns.

 

Several other BWC resources, including toolkits, guides, recommendations, lessons learned, and more can be accessed through our online library.

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Only 36% of institutions of higher education surveyed in our National Higher Education Emergency Management Program Needs Assessment (PDF) currently have business continuity plans in place. These plans help minimize the negative effects of an emergency incident and expedite the restoration of functions on campus.

 

Upcoming Officer Trainings from VALOR

 

Over the next several months, VALOR, an officer safety initiative, will be offering one of their on-site trainings in multiple locations and encourages sworn campus law enforcement officers to register. Officer Safety, Wellness, and Resiliency Training helps improve officer professionalism and safety by "reexamining essential skills that every law enforcement professional should possess." Each training is delivered by instructors who are law enforcement practitioners and subject matter experts, and covers the following key concepts:

 

 

In addition, instructors provide information and techniques for preventing and de-escalating situations that may result in a violent encounter.

 

VALOR was created in 2010 through the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in response to an increase in the number of fatal assaults against law enforcement officers. VALOR provides classroom and web-based training, research, and resources for sworn state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers at no cost. Since its inception, more than 27,000 officers have received VALOR training.

 

A complete list of online trainings and webinars is available on VALOR's eLearning page. Visitors may also find a variety of helpful resources on topics such as officer safety, threat groups, and suicide by cop as well as an officer safety toolkit. If you would like to request a VALOR training, please contact the VALOR team directly. You can also follow VALOR via social media on Twitter or Facebook.