The University of New Mexico (UNM) has announced that Daniel Ravid from the UNM Anderson School of Management, along with colleagues from the Daniels School of Business at Purdue University, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation. The award will support research into the human, organizational, and environmental factors that influence police officers' perceptions and responses to wearing body cameras while on duty.
The team will investigate the conditions under which body-worn cameras contribute to positive policing practices such as proactivity and community engagement. In this three-year project, researchers will focus on officers' perceptions of the technology, examining how their understanding of camera use within their organizations affects positive behavioral outcomes. The study will involve officers from approximately 60 police agencies across 25 states, including both small agencies and large metropolitan departments. Additionally, community members served by these agencies will be surveyed to understand local perceptions influencing officers' perspectives on body cameras. According to a press release by UNM, the study will also illuminate factors affecting reactions to workplace monitoring, providing insights into the effectiveness of monitoring technologies in various circumstances.
"We hope our findings help law enforcement agencies, including the Albuquerque Police and Bernalillo County Sheriff Departments, use these technologies as effectively as possible," Ravid said in a press release by UNM. "Effective use can lead to improved community relations and increases in positive policing practices."
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency, supports science and engineering endeavors across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Established by Congress in 1950, its primary mission is promoting scientific progress, advancing national well-being, prosperity, welfare and ensuring national defense. According to NSF's About webpage, it primarily fulfills its mission through grants that significantly contribute to federal support for basic research at American colleges and universities. This fosters curiosity-driven and solutions-oriented research with potential benefits for the American people.