Summary
In 2016, 47% of general-purpose law enforcement agencies in the United States had acquired body-worn cameras (BWCs). The main reasons (about 80% each) that local police and sheriffs’ offices had acquired BWCs were to improve officer safety, increase evidence quality, reduce civilian complaints, and reduce agency liability. Findings are based on the 2016 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics - Body-Worn Camera Supplement from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of general-purpose law enforcement agencies (i.e., municipal, county, and regional police departments; sheriffs’ offices with law enforcement duties; andprimary state and highway patrol agencies).