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Abstract
The use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) by police officers is a relatively recent advancement in law enforcement. While nearly 75 percent of police departments did not use BWCs in 2013 (NIJ, 2017), the use of this technology has rapidly grown in recent years. Maciag (2016) reports that in a national survey, “Nearly every large police department…said it plans to move forward with body- worn cameras, with 95 percent either committed to body cameras or having completed their implementation” (para Nearly every). Unlike its predecessor, fixed vehicle dashboard cameras, BWCs provide a clearer picture of police-civilian encounters. The purpose of this study was to assess the current use BWCs by Kentucky law enforcement agencies and to determine, from an agency perspective, the importance of these cameras in police-civilian interactions. Data were collected from a random sample (n = 25) of Kentucky law enforcement agencies in 2016. Findings suggest that law enforcement agencies in Kentucky are gradually adopting BWC technology and, among those that already employ it, most view BWCs as “very helpful” in documenting police- civilian interactions.