1
00:00:00,580 --> 00:00:05,280
KRISTEN MAHONEY: Hello, and welcome to the
Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance
2
00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,320
body-worn camera toolkit.
3
00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,000
National events
have highlighted the importance of reducing crime,
4
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,920
improving public safety,
and increasing officer safety.
5
00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:19,260
Ongoing dialogue about these
issues has revealed that in many communities
6
00:00:19,260 --> 00:00:23,700
law enforcement agencies have
implemented sound and promising practices
7
00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:26,860
that have contributed to safer and stronger communities.
8
00:00:26,860 --> 00:00:27,880
To that point,
9
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,880
law enforcement agencies are using body worn cameras
10
00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,480
as a tool to improve interactions with the public,
11
00:00:33,480 --> 00:00:36,940
improve officer training, help ensure officer training,
12
00:00:36,940 --> 00:00:42,500
and as a useful evidentiary
tool investigations of serious and violent crimes.
13
00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:46,640
Preliminary evidence
indicates the presence of body worn cameras
14
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:53,220
backed by robust used policies helps
strengthen legal cases, reduces community complaints,
15
00:00:53,220 --> 00:00:55,820
and decreases use of force incidents
16
00:00:55,820 --> 00:00:58,420
resulting in more constructive encounters between
17
00:00:58,420 --> 00:01:01,700
the police and the members of the community they serve.
18
00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:07,360
However, implementation of a body worn
camera program presents significant opportunities
19
00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,200
and challenges.
Here at the Bureau of Justice Assistance,
20
00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,080
we want to ensure that we do everything possible
21
00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,780
to support law enforcement and justice agencies
22
00:01:16,780 --> 00:01:21,420
as they implement body worn camera
programs in a thoughtful and effective way
23
00:01:21,420 --> 00:01:23,700
that builds upon best practices
24
00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:28,040
with input from both criminal justice and community stakeholders.
25
00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,160
Keeping with our commitment and
overall mission of supporting law enforcement
26
00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:36,340
this toolkit is designed to
provide assistance with technology
27
00:01:36,340 --> 00:01:40,600
and demonstrate examples of sound and promising implementation.
28
00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:46,000
It also provides a wealth of resources that recognizes the critical factor
29
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,820
that collaboration plays between law enforcement
30
00:01:48,820 --> 00:01:52,400
and stakeholders for
successfully establishing policies
31
00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,980
that address important issues such as when to record,
32
00:01:55,980 --> 00:02:00,360
training, investigatory use, and implementation.
33
00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,620
This dynamic website
consolidates and translates
34
00:02:03,620 --> 00:02:07,300
the latest and most advanced
information on promising practices
35
00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:10,840
and provides templates
and tools gathered from the field
36
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,920
surrounding implementation,
training, funding, and policy.
37
00:02:14,920 --> 00:02:18,320
I urge you to browse the rich content of the toolkit.
38
00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,580
Because the needs of law enforcement and local communities
are ever-changing,
39
00:02:22,580 --> 00:02:27,320
we will continue to update
the toolkit so that it is responsive to your needs.
40
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:32,860
Thank you, to all the organizations that
provided resources to make this toolkit a reality
41
00:02:32,860 --> 00:02:38,820
and more importantly, thank you,
for all your dedication to help keep our nation safe.
