U.S. Department of Justice federal agents have begun wearing body cameras when performing pre-planned law enforcement operations, such as arrest warrants and search agents, almost a year after non-state law enforcement officers working on federal workgroups allowed the cameras to use the cameras wear, it says in a press release. Some agents from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Marshals Service will start wearing cameras “over the next few weeks”, the inspector general found the agency “generally unprepared” to launch its own program. Inspector General’s Report: Departmen Justice Needs “Consistent Approach” to Body Cameras Although the department has spent $ 115 million on state, local and indigenous law enforcement agencies over the past decade to build their own body camera programs, the report has not own. In 2016, about 60% of U.S. law enforcement agencies had at least some body cameras, according to the report. Of the agencies with at least 500 full-time officers, 80% had body cameras. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, seven states mandate the use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies. Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco issued a directive on June 7th calling on the Justice Department to develop guidelines for the use of body cameras within 30 days that demand for the use of body cameras has increased as the country grapples with questions argues about excessive use of force by police officers. Protests erupted last summer in response to the murders of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. History goes on for years in jail for Floyd’s murder. US Attorney General Merrick Garland visits the Chicago Police Department’s Strategic Decision Support Center on July 22 with Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., And Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Body cameras were among “areas of concern” at the Audit were identified. The Justice Department said Wednesday its plan will be “phased out” and will “rely on Congress to secure the funding necessary to equip agents with body cameras nationwide.” The department did not immediately respond to questions about the cost of the program, the number of agents who would receive body cameras, and the length of the session I would need to roll out the cameras on all agents. “Law enforcement is most effective when there is accountability and trust between law enforcement agencies and the community. That’s why we’ve expanded our body-worn camera program to include our federal agents to promote transparency and trust not just with the communities we serve and protect, but also with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners. who work with our federal agents every day, “Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Federal Agent Body Cameras Introduced in Detroit, Phoenix
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