Body cameras are currently the hottest technology in justice reform. But Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) thinks that, if local police get them, the U.S. Capitol probably should too.
“There are a lot of proposals up here on Capitol Hill to have grants and pilot programs about outfitting our law enforcement community with body cameras,” Graham said, opening a Tuesday Judiciary Subcomittee hearing on camera use.
“Seems to me that if we were that concerned about it as members of Congress, we would look into that,” he said “So I intend to do that.”
Other parts of the hearing touched on privacy issues and pricing for increased body camera use.
At one point, a witness estimated it could cost $100 per month per officer to store camera data.
While cameras have come to be treated as a cure-all for law enforcement abuse, privacy advocates have grown increasingly wary about their use.
One group, comprised of organizations like the ACLU and NAACP, has requested strict privacy rules to govern cameras. They suggested making the footage accessible to journalists and citizens, and banning police from watching the footage before they file reports lest they alter the facts accordingly.
During the hearing, senators discussed concerns that police could alter footage.
“When does the officer turn it on, when does he turn it off?” wondered Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.). “I think all of us can sort of in our minds see ’60 Minutes’ stories about a miscarriage of justice because of editing of footage.”
According to The Hill, Tuesday’s hearing was initially requested by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), a vocal proponent of body cameras.
Watch part of the hearing below:
