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Facilitating police reform: Body cameras, police-involved homicides, and law enforcement outcomes

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  • Kim, Taeho

Abstract

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) have emerged as a crucial reform to restore police legitimacy. However, there remains limited evidence on the conditions under which BWCs reduce use of force and affect broader agency-wide outcomes. Using a quasi-experimental event study design, I analyze data from 593 U.S. police agencies to estimate the effects of BWC adoption. I find that reductions in police-involved homicides are heterogeneous—concentrated in regions with higher prior levels of such incidents and in agencies with stricter activation requirements, with no measurable change in low-incident regions or agencies with weaker policies. This study also provides the first evidence on agency-wide outcomes, finding no significant trade-offs in overall arrest or crime rates. These findings offer insight into when BWCs are most likely to enhance police accountability and performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Taeho, 2025. "Facilitating police reform: Body cameras, police-involved homicides, and law enforcement outcomes," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:248:y:2025:i:c:s0047272725001227
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105424
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    JEL classification:

    • K40 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - General
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • M50 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - General

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