Wake County Sheriff's Office Body Worn Cameras - Detention Division

Wake County remains the most populated county in North Carolina. According to the U.S. Census
Bureau, Wake County has an estimated population of 1,150,204. Wake County Sheriff’s Office
(WCSO) plans to expand the existing BWC program to include detention officers in the Detention
Division. The two Wake County facilities for inmates are John H. Baker, Jr. Public Safety Center
(PSC) and Wake County Detention Center (WCDC). WCSO is staffed with a total of 310 detention
officers, 90 at PSC and 220 at WCDC. Expanding the BWC program will assist in documenting all
detention officer-inmate and/or inmate-inmate encounters, therefore increasing the amount of evidence
available for court processing and decreasing complaint investigations and agency liability.
Goals of expanding the WCSO BWC program are: (1) procure and deploy 350 BWCs, (2) increase
accountability and transparency of WCSO and inmates by educating detention officers and applicable
personnel, (3) promote integrity and consistency by informing inmates and the public about BWC
interactions between WCSO and inmates, (4) train detention officers on how to properly use and
maintain the BWCs and devices, and (5) demonstrate how the evidence collected is stored, reviewed,
retained, and (under appropriate circumstances) redacted.
The WCSO BWC expansion program will assist detention officers to support goals for WCSO to
monitor the inmate’s safety while in the facilities. Program objectives include: (1) revising the current
BWC policy and procedures; (2) training programs developed to support proper operations and
maintenance of the devices being used by detention officers; (3) providing program information to
inmates, citizens, and stakeholders to educate BWC policy and procedures for detention centers; (4)
producing quarterly reviews and communication with key staff members, stakeholders, and
community groups about the BWC goals; (5) decreasing the number of reports of injuries related to
use of force against inmates and detention officers; and (6) reducing the average length of time (in
days) from the initial court date to final case disposition for cases brought by the WCSO to the Wake
County District Court.
WCSO anticipates the success of this program will continue to increase trust from the public, monitor
inmate activity to decrease altercations, and provide transparency of incidents that may occur between
inmates and detention officers. The program will provide better support of evidence being used in
trials and litigations. Program performance measures will also be collected for grant reporting and
program evaluation.