In recent years, the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) by law enforcement agencies has increased dramatically as a key tool to enhance transparency, public trust, and officer accountability. This narrative presents a deep dive into the policies and practices of the New Hampshire State Police (NHSP) regarding BWC usage.

The NHSP, in synchronization with other law enforcement agencies in the United States, recognizes the value of using BWCs. Such technology assists in documenting interactions between the public and police officers, collecting evidentiary information about crimes and police interactions, training law enforcement personnel, and promoting transparency and accountability within the law enforcement community.

NHSP policy mandates on-duty officers to wear body-worn cameras and to activate them under certain situations. The NHSP policy underscores that officers should initiate BWC recording during all law enforcement-related encounters or activities. This could include traffic stops, calls for service, vehicle pursuits, suspect interrogations, and any encounter that may result in the officer drawing their firearm.

By stating such broad circumstances, the NHSP policy seeks to capture as much of an incident as possible, preserving an unbiased, objective perspective that can prove valuable when reviewing accusations of misconduct or abuse.

NHSP understands and anticipates situations where recording may not be appropriate or feasible. For instance, interacting with a victim of a horrific crime or during interviews involving juveniles. Therefore, the policy allows officers some discretion, depending on the specific circumstances, on whether to activate their BWCs.

Although the policy ostensibly gives an officer the choice, it reminds them that if they make the decision not to activate or deactivate their BWC in line with the policy, they will need to articulate their reasoning comprehensively in their incident report.

Regular supervision and random audits are mechanisms that NHSP uses to ensure police officers adhere to the BWC policy. A designated Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards official reviews random BWC recordings regularly to uphold the compliance with the protocol.

In the realm of privacy rights, NHSP policies are constructed to respect and protect the rights of involved individuals. Video footage not requiring retention for an investigation or prosecution, for instance, is held for a specified period before being purged from the system. In addition, people featured in the videos are capable, in specific circumstances and after a formal application, to request and view the footage.

To maintain transparency, yet accommodating for state laws regarding public disclosure of evidence and privacy concerns, NHSP's general course is to decline requests for public access to BWC footage. However, in compelling public interest cases, this decision can be reviewed, and the footage may be made publicly available.

To ensure the proper use and management of BWCs, NHSP provides training to all officers equipped with BWCs. Training encompasses lawful usage, operation, and maintenance of the devices to ensure they function as required while respecting privacy guidelines and legal boundaries.

In essence, NHSP's BWC policies and practices are rooted in accountability, protection of privacy, responsibility, and the promotion of transparency between the public and the police, geared towards maintaining and improving public trust and demonstrating that officers' duties are performed within the provisions of the law.

It is undeniably true that BWCs are no panacea for all law enforcement problems. Still, when complemented with careful policy crafting, thorough training, and public involvement, they serve as nifty tools that convey the processes and realities of law enforcement to the public, and NHSP strides on that path efficiently, with the final objective of better law enforcement in the beautiful Granite State.