2026/01/07 by Mustafa Demir · 1 voice
Medicine · Social Sciences · #Crime Patterns and Interventions #Policing Practices and Perceptions #Restraint-Related Deaths
paper · doi:10.1080/18335330.2026.2613433
openalex publication_date 2026/01/07 · openalex created_date 2026/01/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
While it is commonly assumed that the effects of body-worn cameras (BWCs) on police and citizen behaviour are driven by self-awareness and deterrence mechanisms, this assumption has not been empirically tested. This is the first study to examine the deterrence and self-awareness effects of BWCs – from both police and citizen perspectives – on police behaviour (procedural justice, use of force, police lawfulness) and citizen behaviour (specific compliance, general compliance, citizen complaints) within a causal framework. Survey data were collected from police officers (N = 131) across four agencies and randomly selected university students (N = 285). Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that respondents perceived police and citizen behaviour to be significantly influenced by the self-awareness and deterrent effects of BWCs, with the self-awareness effect mediated by deterrence. Policy implications are discussed.