Should the video footage be allowed as evidence

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Reference no: EM133223078

Question - The police in Cleantown have started wearing body cameras. Body cameras are small cameras police wear on their chest. Police can use these cameras to videotape interventions and arrests. Videotapes can be reviewed for training purposes and used as evidence in court.

This use of body cameras is part of an initiative to reduce police brutality and race-related problems. Reports of these problems have increased over the past decade. The majority of Cleantown citizens are in favor of the use of body cameras. The police union resisted their use at first, but the union seems to be warming to the use of the technology after body camera video evidence proved helpful in fighting a harassment claim.

Even with support for use of the cameras, police policy regarding their use is unclear. For example, there have been no clear guidelines as to when and how the body cameras will be switched on and off. That lack of clarity just became a very public issue.

Tonight in Cleantown, a police SWAT raid was carried out on a known drug den. The raid was part of a crackdown on the local methamphetamine trade. During the raid, the body cameras of the uniformed SWAT members were on. But there was a problem with the raid: the SWAT team went to 88 East Valente Drive instead of 88 West Valente Drive.

When the team broke through the door, they didn't enter a methamphetamine cook site as they were expecting. Instead, they entered the home of Joe Lee Geddis, a suspected serial killer. As two officers ran into the living room, their body cameras recorded the muffled screams of his latest victim behind a door. The cameras also recorded footage of Marilyn Geddis, Joe's sister, relaxing in an armchair and reading a magazine.

The woman was saved and Joe was arrested. At Joe's trial, prosecutors want to bring Marilyn to trial as his accomplice. Marilyn's lawyer says that Marilyn was held against her will and didn't help Joe in his crimes. The prosecutor wants to introduce the camera footage from the SWAT raid. He thinks the video evidence shows that Marilyn was relaxed and free to leave at any time.

What do you think? Should the video footage be allowed as evidence? Why or why not?

Reference no: EM133223078

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