[aab0]

> In places where they closely followed the instructions (use the camera during each encounter if you’re in a treatment group; don’t use it if you’re in a control group), the results were positive—a 37 percent reduction in use of force on average. But if you allow the treatment group discretion to choose when to turn it on, the result is 71 percent greater use of force. Thus the problem seems to arise mainly when officers are allowed to turn cameras on at times of their own choosing.

And suddenly, Brin's _The Transparent Society_ comes flooding back to memory.

[gonehome]

That quote seems to counter the 'nobody knows why' in the article subtitle.

If it backfires when Police can choose to turn them off that seems to suggest that they act as if having a camera protects them from being questioned. Since they'll likely record video evidence in their favor and just turn it off if they want to use force.

In the case with no camera things would be more balanced (though still skewed toward the police officer's testimony), but selective camera use strongly biases favorably to the police officer.

A camera that's always on should help get closer to the truth for the officer and the suspect.