O controle da atividade policial e do respeito aos direitos humanos através de câmeras em viaturas e em vestimentas de policiais

Abstract

The present work, after discussing the control of police activity in Brazil, especially in respect of human rights and in the activity of producing evidence, shows that the current forms of police control instruments need to be able to bring to light the truth of the relationship between police officers and citizens impartially. To do so, this text searches on the experience developed in the city of Rialto, California, USA, by Chief of Police Tony A. Farrar, who outfitted his cops with cameras attached to the body, and obtained excellent results on the reduction of use of police force and prison resistance index. The experience focused directly on the effects of the use of such cameras and pointed out that people (police and citizen) tend to "behave better" when they realize that they are being filmed. As well, this work goes a bit further and seeks to present arguments that seek to rebut the criticisms lodged with the use of cameras, which are: possible violations to privacy of citizen and police; violations of the right of a suspect not to produce evidence in their disfavor; and costs for a State in the event of a possible application in masses of police cameras.