Body Cameras for Prison Guards (S 811, H 5928)

Because we believe body-worn cameras can promote accountability in the correctional setting and serve as a useful oversight tool both for correctional officers and for those who are incarcerated, we supported legislation which would require correctional staff to wear and use these cameras for certain interactions. However, as the legislation currently reads, officers are given broad discretion as to when to activate the cameras. Because of this, we argued that this legislation be amended to set clear and narrow circumstances when body-worn camera activation is allowed to ensure against their misuse or abuse. This legislation died in committtee.