Texas County To Use Cameras To Enforce Domestic Violence Laws

Cameras have long been used by law enforcement officials to capture crimes and to prosecute individuals based on the evidence presented through video footage. Cameras attached to police vehicles have been used to prosecute drunk-driving charges or vehicle violations. Now, a Texas county wants to follow in the steps of other Texas counties and hopes to expand the use of cameras by law enforcement officials. 

Capturing Domestic Violence Crimes On Camera 

Comal County, located on the Edwards Plateau with a population in excess of 100,000 residents, believes that the use of cameras will help law enforcement officials combat domestic violence crimes. Police in Comal County will be equipped with new handheld video cameras that they can use in the field when responding to domestic violence calls. The Texas Council on Family Violence and the governor’s office paid for the cost of the cameras through a $15,000 grant.  

Normally when an officer responds to a domestic violence call, the officer will write down a written statement from the victim or interview the victim on the police camera in the car. Now, police can bring the camera to the victim. According to New Braunfels Police Chief Thomas Wibert, the cameras allow the police to get the best possible statement from the victim while the incident “is still fresh in the victim's mind.”

Furthermore, by the time a domestic violence charge goes to trial, a victim’s bruises, cuts or injuries may have healed or may not be as significant as when the incident occurred. Comal County District Attorney Jennifer Tharp said that videos allow prosecutors to better prove their cases and present the best, most persuasive evidence to the judge or jury.

 Cameras Increase Prosecution Of Domestic Violence Charges

Comal County hopes that the new cameras will be available within the next few weeks. When the county starts using these cameras, it will join a list of other counties that have been using cameras to prosecute incidents of domestic violence.

According to Gloria Terry, CEO of the Texas Council on Family Violence, “this is a strategy and approach that has been employed for some time” and other communities have demonstrated success with it. Apparently, counties already using this technology have experienced up to a 60% increase in the prosecution of domestic violence crimes. El Paso has been using these cameras since 2011, and according to Ms. Tharp, the prosecution of domestic violence charges has increased during the same period.

Neal Davis Attorney at Law comments "This approach is going to make it much harder for family violence victims to reverse their claims. Primarily spouses who call for police help while the violence is occurring or has recently occurred and later try to reverse the claim so that their loved one is not prosecuted. We expect to see a drop in False allegations of domestic abuse and family violence if these cameras are implemented. ". Read more on False allegations of domestic abuse by Neal Davis.