ECI Debuts Correctional Officers Using Body-Worn Cameras

Westover, Md. — Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI) announced Tuesday that correctional officers will be using body-worn cameras in the course of their duties, a measure officials say will improve officer accountability and improve safety in the prison.

Prison officials said ECI officers were part of a pilot program for body-worn cameras in prisons and have been using the cameras since March. Since officers started wearing the cameras, ECI has reported a 49% reduction in monthly assault cases.

David Greene, deputy secretary of operations at the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said the cameras help improve behavior from both incarcerated individuals and officers.

“There’s kind of a deterrent effect that a camera has, that when the incarcerated individuals know that what they are saying and doing is being both recorded in video and also audio, it helps to keep everybody on the level, if you will,” Greene said. “And similarly, it brings to the surface any conduct by our correctional officers that is not appropriately aligned with our current policies.”

ECI correctional officer Robert Williams said the cameras act as a de-escalation tool and provides additional information that his supervisors can use when reviewing incidents. He added that he records every interaction he has with individuals while at work.

“Any interaction that I have with somebody here, anytime I respond to something, I activate it. Just situations like that, it’s your responsibility to trigger the camera. And then turn it off and file it when you’re done,” Williams said. 

Greene explained the benefits of the extra footage and audio recording.

“We’ve had facility surveillance cameras for a number of years. This adds another layer. It provides additional angles. It provides audio for those instances where the video itself may not be sufficient,” Greene said.

The footage is beneficial for officers during investigations into incidents and complaints, according to ECI captain Christopher Pankratz.

“Before we had the cameras there was a lot of what he said. she said type of business. I’m going by what the officer said compared to what we see on camera now with the body cameras, we actually have the footage to see and show what they said, what he said, what she said, to go along with their statements,” Pankratz said.