Date

8-29-2025

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)

Chair

Angela Swan

Keywords

body-worn camera, BWC, accountability, use of force, trial, courtroom, testimony, credibility, conviction rate

Disciplines

Legal Studies

Abstract

The use of Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) by criminal justice practitioners in America has increased dramatically during the past decade. However, many assumptions were made during this process about the effectiveness of BWCs without adequate research or evidence to back up the claims. Deploying new technology under such circumstances often produces unexpected outcomes. One of these unanticipated results may be the increased dependence of judges and juries upon video evidence. Increasingly, adjudicators may hesitate to accept an officer’s testimony at face value. Prosecutors may even be reluctant to pursue cases at all when video is unavailable to bolster the officer’s statement. If such an erosion of police credibility exists, it is likely to have significant impacts on law enforcement agencies and prosecutors nationwide, warranting greater scholarly consideration. Despite the importance of this issue, little research has been done on the impact of BWCs in the courtroom. Most jurisdictions in Florida have adopted BWCs within the past decade. Using a mixed methods approach, the current research collected and then analyzed survey instruments from judges throughout the State of Florida, assessing their opinions about the credibility of officer testimony and BWC footage. The quantitative findings showed a significant credibility advantage for BWC footage over officer testimony. The qualitative data supported, confirmed and helped illuminate these findings. These results may help guide policy development for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across the country.

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