Body cameras behind bars: Exploring correctional officers’ feelings of safety with body-worn cameras

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Sydes, M
Dodd, S
Antrobus, E
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2020
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Amid rising rates of prison violence, corrective service agencies worldwide are increasingly championing body-worn cameras as a tool with the potential of making the prison environment safer. Little is known, however, whether this technology makes correctional officers feel safer while carrying out their duties in an environment with higher rates of violence than most other occupations. Using survey data and interviews with correctional officers in Queensland, Australia, this study shows that for many correctional officers, body-worn cameras do not improve feelings of safety or have a civilizing effect on prisoner behavior. Most correctional officers do believe, however, that the presence of body-worn cameras reduces the threat of false allegations and thereby improves their “professional” safety. This study also considers whether officers’ perceptions of physical or professional safety vary by officer characteristics, body-worn camera usage, and prison type.

Journal Title

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note

This publication has been entered as an advanced online version in Griffith Research Online.

Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Criminology

Technology, crime and surveillance

Police administration, procedures and practice

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Sydes, M; Dodd, S; Antrobus, E, Body cameras behind bars: Exploring correctional officers’ feelings of safety with body-worn cameras, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2020

Collections