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Parole Officers test body cameras to enhance offender supervision....
A few decades ago, parole officers were required to conduct field contacts with offenders and write their comments on a notepad for each individual interaction throughout the entire day.
Upon returning to their desk, the officer would then transfer that information into an offender log book and, hopefully - after a full-day of conducting field visits and addressing offender issues - no pertinent information would be lost in that process. As one might imagine, this practice was extremely time consuming and increased the risk of unintentionally transferring inaccurate information.
Later, the widespread availability and use of desktop computers and eventually laptops, tablets and smartphones improved officers efficiency and increased the accuracy
and reliability of the typewritten offender interaction information. "We are constantly searching for ways we can become more efficient,” says State Board of Pardons and Paroles Director of Field Operations David Morrison.
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles believes the use of body cameras to capture and record offender interaction information is the next evolutionary step in the natural progression of quality field supervision. “Our agency has always sought opportunities where we could incorporate the use of technology to advance community supervision,” says Morrison.
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