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Police should only get Qualified Immunity when body cam footage is available to the court

Created by B.W. on November 25, 2014

If we merely force police officers to wear body cameras, then we will see footage from those cameras in court only when it suits their interests. Officers are given qualified immunity in court because there is a presumption of good intentions on their part. This presumption is now in question.

I propose that a law be enacted that qualified immunity for law enforcement become contingent upon body cam footage being made available in court. That is, if your body cam was turned off or malfunctioned, you don't get qualified immunity. That will give officers an appropriate incentive to leave cameras on. It is easily enforceable and costs no more to implement than the cost of the cameras and their infrastructure, likely more than made up for by lowering payouts for force lawsuits.

Civil Rights & Equality
Criminal Justice Reform
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