In 2021 the U.S. Justice Department announced that federal agents would be required to wear body cameras when executing arrest warrants or searching buildings. A 2022 Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that 80% of local police departments in the US used body cameras. The study found that departments that used body cameras showed improvement in officer safety, increased evidence quality and reduced civilian complaints.
Response rates from 7.6m America voters.
81% Yes |
19% No |
67% Yes |
15% No |
12% Yes, this will protect the safety and rights of police officers and citizens |
4% No, it should be a police department’s or officer’s choice to wear one |
2% Yes, but only for patrol officers in high crime areas |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 7.6m America voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 7.6m America voters.
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Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@8XLR4JX 1yr1Y
Yes, and there should be clear consequences for tampering with the device’s footage.
@5LDXQRM4yrs4Y
Only In black towns/ neighborhoods
@56WTPKP4yrs4Y
No, police should be retrained to deescalate high-tension situations and react to dangerous suspects with less lethal force. The reason a criminal isn't afraid to shoot a cop is the same reason a soldier isn't afraid to shoot his opponent in battle. If you threaten another person with death, expect them to fight like hell to kill you first. Furthermore, police accused of abusing their power should be tried as if they never had a badge in the first place. Murder is murder regardless of who kills who.
@8LXQB354yrs4Y
Yes, the cameras never lie. That would help keep officers out of prison and help a lot with the investigations.
@5J4LQMB4yrs4Y
Yes!!! And if anyone fails to do what a man of the law says, like "stop, hands up, etc.", then the policeman has the lawful right to arrest you. If you try to shoot him, he can defend himself and shoot you. If you shoot a policeman, you should be arrested and the punishment should be you life's punishment, no exceptions, no parole.
@5LDN8JL4yrs4Y
Yes but they should be able to be activated by dispatch officers, not the police officer.
@8FK93944yrs4Y
No, it gives too much leverage to the pigs
@4XYN4HZ4yrs4Y
I believe that with the world we live in today, where a young man who actually committed two crimes (theft and beating a policeman until he had to go to the hospital) dies from being shot in self defense and he is the hero, it is absolutely 100% in the interest of the officer to wear this device. Generations struggled for equality and most did so under the non-violent protests and gatherings of Dr. King, Jr. Those courageous people did not suffer and bleed and March just for their grandchildren and great grandchildren could just throw down the race card and the start rioting and looting and… Read more
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