Reconstructing Legal Accountability through Body-Worn Cameras: A Normative Study of Criminal Justice Reform in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14421/3t9rqr77Keywords:
Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs), Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, TechnologyAbstract
Efforts to modernize Indonesia's criminal justice system demand legal mechanisms that ensure accountability, fairness, and human rights protection at every procedural stage. While global studies on Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) have focused on operational and policing impacts, few have examined their normative legitimacy and evidentiary validity within Indonesia's legal context. Anchored in the principles of the rule of law, due process, and evidentiary integrity, this study analyzes the legal status of BWCs, explores comparative practices in other jurisdictions, and formulates an ideal regulatory model for Indonesia. This research employs a normative legal method using conceptual and comparative approaches, analyzing statutory materials, public policies, and international practices from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. The findings reveal that Indonesia lacks a comprehensive legal framework governing operational standards, data management, and the evidentiary use of BWC recordings, resulting in uncertainty and fragmented practices. Comparative experiences show that BWCs become effective when legal systems ensure chain-of-custody integrity, privacy protection, and independent oversight. This study formulates a conceptual legal model integrating accountability, evidentiary reliability, and data protection through explicit activation rules, retention schedules, and dual accountability mechanisms involving internal and external oversight. Accordingly, BWCs are positioned not merely as technological devices but as instruments of legal reform that align Indonesia's criminal justice system with global standards of transparency, proportionality, and rights-based governance.
References
Akbar, Muhammad, and Maulana Gustaf. “Legal Aid in Indonesia: Problems and Challenges.” The Indonesian Journal of International Clinical Legal Education 3, no. 2 (June 2021): 163–72. https://doi.org/10.15294/IJICLE.V3I2.46170.
Arifin, Zainal, Zico Junius Fernando, and Emi Puasa Handayani. “Implikasi Hukum Perubahan Kedua Undang-Undang Informasi Dan Transaksi Elektronik: Menyeimbangkan Kebebasan Berpendapat Dan Partisipasi Publik Dalam Demokrasi Digital.” LITIGASI 26, no. 1 (April 30, 2025): 165–200. https://doi.org/10.23969/litigasi.v26i1.21555.
Barbour, Bradley X. “Big Budget Productions with Limited Release: Video Retention Issues with Body-Worn Cameras.” Fordham Law Review 85, no. 4 (February 2017): 1725–55. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.2913796.
Boivin, Rémi, Brigitte Poirier, and Maurizio D’Elia. “Activate Compliance: A Multilevel Study of Factors Associated With Activation of Body-Worn Cameras.” Criminal Justice Review 47, no. 1 (March 2022): 103–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734016820988327.
Bowo Dwinugroho, Yustinus. “Transformation Strategy: Indonesian National Police in Coordinating Crime in The Digital Era.” International Journal of Integrated Science and Technology 2, no. 5 (May 2024): 374–83. https://doi.org/10.59890/IJIST.V2I5.1904.
Camp, Nicholas P., and Rob Voigt. “Body Camera Footage as Data: Using Natural Language Processing to Monitor Policing at Scale & in Depth.” Behavioral Science & Policy 10, no. 2 (October 8, 2024): 16–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/23794607241308636.
Christodoulou, Callum, Helen Paterson, and Richard Kemp. “Body-Worn Cameras: Evidence-Base and Implications.” Current Issues in Criminal Justice 31, no. 4 (October 2, 2019): 513–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10345329.2019.1639590.
Cross, Maria S., and Andrea Cavallaro. “Privacy as a Feature for Body-Worn Cameras [In the Spotlight].” IEEE Signal Processing Magazine 37, no. 4 (July 2020): 145–46. https://doi.org/10.1109/MSP.2020.2989686.
Edwards, Lilian, and Lachlan Urquhart. “Privacy in Public Spaces: What Expectations of Privacy Do We Have in Social Media Intelligence?” SSRN Electronic Journal, December 2015, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.2702426.
Henstock, Darren, and Barak Ariel. “Testing the Effects of Police Body-Worn Cameras on Use of Force during Arrests: A Randomised Controlled Trial in a Large British Police Force.” European Journal of Criminology 14, no. 6 (November 16, 2017): 720–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370816686120.
Iliadis, Mary, Bridget Harris, Zarina Vakhitova, Delanie Woodlock, Asher Flynn, and Danielle Tyson. “How Police Body-Worn Cameras Can Facilitate Misidentification in Domestic and Family Violence Responses.” Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, no. 684 (2024): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.52922/TI77277.
Iliadis, Mary, Zarina Vakhitova, Bridget Harris, Danielle Tyson, and Asher Flynn. “Police Body-Worn Cameras in Response to Domestic and Family Violence: A Study of Police Perceptions and Experiences.” In The Palgrave Handbook of Gendered Violence and Technology, 417–39. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83734-1_21.
Jones, Meg Leta, Elana Zeide, Jens Erik Mai, Elisabeth Jones, Jill Dupre, and Neil Richards. “The Right to Be Forgotten.” Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology 52, no. 1 (January 2015): 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1002/PRA2.2015.145052010010.
Koen, Marthinus C., James J. Willis, and Stephen D. Mastrofski. “The Effects of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Organisation and Practice: A Theory-Based Analysis.” Policing and Society 29, no. 8 (October 13, 2019): 968–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2018.1467907.
Kruse, Ulrike, Jürgen M. Kaufmann, Franka Seidel, and Stefan R. Schweinberger. “The De-Escalating Potential of Body-Worn Cameras: Results from Six German Police Departments.” Journal of Criminal Justice 88 (September 2023): 102113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2023.102113.
Krygier, Martin. “The Rule of Law and State Legitimacy.” Legitimacy, May 2019, 106–36. https://doi.org/10.1093/OSO/9780198825265.003.0007.
Kurdi, Kurdi, and Joko Cahyono. “Perlindungan Data Pribadi Di Era Digital Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 27 Tahun 2022.” JUNCTO: Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum 6, no. 2 (December 2024): 330–39. https://doi.org/10.31289/JUNCTO.V6I2.5443.
L’Hoiry, Xavier, Simone Santorso, and Karen Harrison. “Body-Worn Cameras and Unintended Consequences: A Case Study of a British Police Force.” The Police Journal 97, no. 4 (December 2024): 658–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X231211177.
Lee, Murray, Emmeline Taylor, and Matthew Willis. “Being Held to Account: Detainees’ Perceptions of Police Body-Worn Cameras.” Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology 52, no. 2 (June 16, 2019): 174–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004865818781913.
Lum, Cynthia, Christopher S. Koper, David B. Wilson, Megan Stoltz, Michael Goodier, Elizabeth Eggins, Angela Higginson, and Lorraine Mazerolle. “PROTOCOL: Body-Worn Cameras’ Effects on Police Officers and Citizen Behavior: A Systematic Review.” Campbell Systematic Reviews 15, no. 3 (September 2019): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/CL2.1043.
Mateescu, Alexandra, Alex Rosenblat, and Danah Boyd. “Dreams of Accountability, Guaranteed Surveillance: The Promises and Costs of Body-Worn Cameras.” Surveillance & Society 14, no. 1 (May 2016): 122–27. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v14i1.6282.
Miller, L., J. Toliver, and Perf. Implementing a Body-Worn Camera Program: Recommendations and Lessons Learned. Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice, 2014.
Miranda, Diana. “Body-Worn Cameras ‘on the Move’: Exploring The Contextual, Technical and Ethical Challenges in Policing Practice.” Policing and Society 32, no. 1 (January 2022): 18–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2021.1879074.
National Commission on Human Rights. “End of Year 2024 Notes on Human Rights in Indonesia,” 2024.
Nørgaard, Lars Cyril. “Past Privacy.” Early Modern Privacy, December 2021, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004153073_002.
Nurjaya, I. Nyoman, Fitria Dewi Navisa, and La Ode Machdani Afala. “The Baduy Tribe’s Political Participation in Indonesia’s Democratic Framework.” Brawijaya Law Journal 12, no. 1 (May 2025): 125–54. https://doi.org/10.21776/UB.BLJ.2025.012.01.07.
Oegrosoeno, Arif Havas. “Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 12 Tahun 2005 Tentang Pengesahan International Covenant on Civil and Political Rlghts/ICCPR.” Indonesian Journal of International Law 4, no. 1 (August 2021): 169–76. https://doi.org/10.17304/ijil.vol4.1.136.
Poirier, Brigitte, Étienne Charbonneau, and Rémi Boivin. “Police Body-Worn Cameras and Privacy: Views and Concerns of Officers and Citizens.” International Journal of Police Science & Management 26, no. 2 (June 21, 2024): 170–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/14613557231214383.
Powell, Zachary A. “Body-Worn Cameras and Settlements.” Justice Evaluation Journal 7, no. 2 (July 2, 2024): 161–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2023.2267651.
Rahayu, Devi, Wartiningsih, and Riesta Yogahastama. “New and Renewable Energy: Ensuring the Hydropower Development Policy Meets the Community and the Environmental Participation Based on the Paris Agreement.” Brawijaya Law Journal 9, no. 2 (October 2022): 107–25. https://doi.org/10.21776/UB.BLJ.2022.009.02.01.
Robertson, O. Nicholas, John D. McCluskey, Shakierah S. Smith, and Craig D. Uchida. “Body Cameras and Adjudication: Views of Prosecutors and Public Defenders.” Criminal Justice Review 49, no. 1 (March 2024): 15–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/07340168221124458.
Saulnier, Alana, and Amanda Couture-Carron. “The Importance of Victim Sensitive Body-Worn Camera Policy.” Applied Police Briefings 1, no. 1 (June 2024): 15–17. https://doi.org/10.22215/apb.v1i.4860.
Shela Octavia, Robertus Belarminus. “Kontras Catat 602 Kasus Kekerasan Dalam Setahun Oleh Oknum Polisi.” nasional.kompas.com, 2025. https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/06/30/20575411/kontras-catat-602-kasus-kekerasan-dalam-setahun-oleh-oknum-polisi?page=all.
Siregar, Hisar, Roida Nababan, Besty Habeahan, and Belva Frederic Gulo. “Resolution of Disputes on Disclosure of Public Information: Judicial Approach Through Adjudication and Litigation Based on the Law Number 14 of 2008 Concerning Openness of Public Information.” Golden Ratio of Law and Social Policy Review 4, no. 2 (March 2025): 42–47. https://doi.org/10.52970/GRLSPR.V4I2.928.
Sopacua, Margie Gladies. “Submission of Electronic Evidence in General Crimes and Special Crimes.” Scholars International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 03, no. 04 (2020): 117–21. https://doi.org/10.36348/sijlcj.2020.v03i04.006.
Stoughton, Seth W. “Police Body-Worn Cameras.” SSRN Electronic Journal, December 2017, 1–62. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.3094334.
Suastuti, Eny, Lalu Muhammad Hayyanul Haq, Yudi Widagdo Harimurti, and Deni Setya Bagus Yuherawan. “Transformation and Effects of Human Rights Protection on Determining Corruption Suspects as a Pretrial Object under the Indonesian Criminal Justice System.” Lex Scientia Law Review 8, no. 2 (November 30, 2024): 817–58. https://doi.org/10.15294/lslr.v8i2.14667.
Swire, Peter, and Jesse Woo. “Privacy and Cybersecurity Lessons at the Intersection of the Internet of Things and Police Body-Worn Cameras.” SSRN Electronic Journal, April 2018, 1–45. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.3168089.
Taylor, Emmeline, and Murray Lee. “Off the Record? Arrestee Concerns about the Manipulation, Modification, and Misrepresentation of Police Body-Worn Camera Footage.” Surveillance & Society 17, no. 3/4 (September 7, 2019): 473–83. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v17i3/4.6550.
Williams Jr Nathan Weil Elizabeth A Rasich Jens Ludwig Hye Chang Sophia Egrari, Morgan C, Anthony Braga, Aaron Chalfin, Philip Cook, Barry Friedman, Emily Owens, by C Morgan Williams Jr, et al. “Body-Worn Cameras in Policing: Benefits and Costs.” NBER Working Paper Series, March 2021, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.3386/W28622.
Zedner, Lucia, and Carl Friedrich Stuckenberg. “Due Process.” In Core Concepts in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice: Volume 1, Anglo-German Dialogues, 304–42. Cambridge University Press, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108649742.009.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Naidah, Zico Junius Fernando
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
