Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Raj Singh

Abstract

Delays in the release of police body-worn camera (BWC) video footage have amplified public concerns about police misconduct. Law enforcement transparency is questioned when video from BWCs is not shared in a timely manner with the community. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore community and victims’ family’s beliefs related to delays in the release of police BWC footage. Rogers’s diffusion innovation theory and Mettler and Sorelle’s policy feedback theory were used for the study’s conceptual framework. The research questions focused on understanding the perceptions of community relationships with law enforcement around transparency, communication, and information sharing. A qualitative phenomenology study design was used to examine 13 participants’ lived experiences and what factors influence community and victim family members’ perceptions of law enforcement when there is delay in the release of BWC video. Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software was used, along with manual coding, to code and analyze themes that emerged from the participants’ lived experiences. The results showed that both the community and the victim’s family members are requesting changes to community policing initiatives for better community engagement and for building positive relationships, trust, transparency, police legitimacy, and communication. This study presents law enforcement and society with insight on how to improve public perceptions and understanding of appropriate use of BWC videos.

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