RT Article
T1 The ruling from the field stands? Shedding light on officers’ interpretations of body-worn cameras footage
JF Policing and society
VO 35
IS 8
SP 1100
OP 1116
A1 Mousseau, Vincent
A1 Charbonneau, Étienne
A1 Poirier, Brigitte
A1 Boivin, Rémi
A2 Charbonneau, Étienne
A2 Poirier, Brigitte
A2 Boivin, Rémi
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1937673731
AB Despite extensive research on the expanding use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) in law enforcement, the perceived evidentiary value of the resulting images remains unclear. Previous studies have shown that images do not inherently ‘speak for themselves’, emphasising the need for a deeper understanding of the information these technologies may offer to different viewers. This study examines, through semi-structured interviews and video elicitation with 43 officers from a Body-Worn Camera pilot programme in Quebec, Canada, how police officers interpret BWC footage and their beliefs about how citizens might interpret the same video. It aims to better understand how their distinctive police knowledge may shape their perceptions. The findings suggest that officers interpret situations based on their professional training and experiences, which provide them a ‘police lens’ to understand police intervention images. However, this lens is not uniform, as interpretations of certain sequences of the depicted events vary among the surveyed police officers. The findings also point to a prevailing sense of ‘naïve realism’, with some officers viewing the images as self-explanatory, while others believe that citizens would need context to fully comprehend the footage and overcome their biases. This study helps us understand how people and occupational cultures interpret BWC footage. It reminds us to be careful about using these images as solid evidence, whether in court or when shared with the public.
K1 police knowledge
K1 video elicitation
K1 Police body-worn cameras
DO 10.1080/10439463.2025.2450429