Body-Worn Cameras and Policing: A List Experiment of Citizen Overt and True Support

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bromberg, Daniel E.; Charbonneau, Etienne; Smith, Andrew
• 署名单位: University System Of New Hampshire; University of New Hampshire; University System Of New Hampshire; University of New Hampshire; University of Quebec; Ecole National Administration Publique Canada; University System Of New Hampshire; University of New Hampshire
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/puar.12924
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 883-891
• 关键词: social desirability bias; information-act 2000; central government; awkward couple; matching parts; TRANSPARENCY; ACCOUNTABILITY; DYNAMICS; opinion; context

摘要

Police body-worn cameras (BWCs) have gained popularity in recent years. However, many minimize the complexity of this transparency initiative and elevate the potential benefits. While BWCs can promote police accountability, they may also reduce citizen trust in police organizations. For BWCs to achieve win-win solutions, police organizations should determine the level of citizen support for specific BWC practices. However, measuring citizen support presents several challenges. Social desirability may impact polling results, as participants underreport responses they perceive to be outside the norm. The authors employ a list experiment design to measure true citizen support for BWC practices. They find statistically significant levels of social desirability for police discretion in the activation of BWCs and for restriction of footage accessibility regarding suspects with mental illness. Decision makers should not rely on public opinion polls as a gauge of true citizen support for BWC use.