The U.S. Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) launched the National Body-Worn Camera Toolkit, an online clearinghouse of resources designed to help law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve plan and implement body-worn camera programs.
The toolkit consolidates and translates research, promising practices, templates and tools that have been developed by subject matter experts.
In late February, BJA convened a Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Expert Panel that consisted of law enforcement leaders, recognized criminal justice practitioners, national policy leaders and civil rights and community advocates. The expert panel came together to discuss the benefits and challenges related to the adoption of BWC technology and to begin developing an online toolkit that can serve as a clearinghouse of resources on body-worn camera program planning and implementation.
Through facilitated discussions, the expert panel covered a full range of issues and considerations that confront communities that are considering to adopt the technology and the benefits that can accrue when programs are successful. The expert panel identified strategies to address key implementation issues, including policy implications, technological and legal considerations, and training needs.
The result of that joint effort was a toolkit designed to provide assistance in selecting the technology that best fits a department's needs and to provide resources so that law enforcement can collaboratively establish policies that address privacy, training, and implementation.
The National Body-Worn Camera Toolkit can be found at www.bja.gov/bwc, and focuses on procurement, policies, training, implementation and retention. It includes the perspectives of prosecutors, defenders, advocates and community members.
