ABA task force to study use of body cameras by police

The American Bar Association has formed the Task Force on Law Enforcement Body Camera to analyze the use of body cameras by law enforcement professionals as a measure to promote public safety, and to guard against unsubstantiated claims of police misconduct in the country.

Leading the effort is the ABA Criminal Justice Section.

The task force will be charged with reporting on best policies and practices for the deployment and use of law enforcement body cameras, and assessing their impact on the criminal justice system as well as individual liberties.

Panel members will be drawn from ABA entities, law enforcement, government, state prosecutors’ offices, public and private criminal practice, academia, civil liberties groups and other legal arenas.

The task force will present a preliminary set of findings and recommendations to the ABA House of Delegates — the association’s policymaking body — in August at the 2016 ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.