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Body Worn Camera Program

The mission of the Body Worn Camera Program Office (BWCPO) is to enhance public trust, transparency, and accountability through the enterprise deployment of Body Worn Cameras (BWC) within the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

Female Deputy Marshal wearing Vest with Body Worn Camera

Program Overview

The program is responsible for the phased deployment of Body Worn Cameras (BWC) to Deputy U.S. Marshals (DUSMs) in districts while simultaneously supporting the onboarding of Task Force Officer (TFO) partner agencies to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Body Worn Camera Program Office (BWCPO).

The BWCPO ensures that every USMS enforcement officer and TFO participating in the BWCPO is proficient with BWC equipment, technology, policy, and standard operating procedures.

The BWCPO coordinates and delivers training for both U.S. Marshals Service and TFO personnel utilizing BWCs during enforcement operations. The BWCPO is also responsible for managing video footage captured during USMS task force operations, which is subject to federal records requirements and disclosure laws.

The program analyzes the impact of BWC usage across other U.S. Marshals Service divisions and programs, including within the USMS mission systems and information technology infrastructure.

Implementation Map

*Implementation plan subject to change

BWC Implementation Timeline

 

  • October 2019

    DOJ announces component pilot programs for the use of BWCs by certain federally deputized Task Force Officers (TFOs) during planned arrest operations, planned arrest warrant executions, and the execution of search warrants, when the TFOs parent agency requires BWC usage.

  • January 2020

    Task Force Officers (TFOs) in several pilot cities begin wearing and activating BWCs on certain federal task force operations. For the USMS TFO Body Worn Camera pilot program, these cities included Detroit, Houston, and Wichita.

  • October 2020

    DOJ issues a policy expanding the use of BWCs by Task Force Officers (TFOs) on federal task forces beyond the pilot locations.

  • May 2021

    U.S. Marshals Service awards contract to the vendor for Body Worn Camera hardware and video retention solution.

  • June 2021

    The Deputy Attorney General issues a memorandum that orders the components of the Department of Justice to develop Body Worn Camera policies that require federal officers to wear and activate Body Worn Camera recording equipment during planned arrest operations, arrest warrant executions, and search warrant executions.

  • August 2021

    U.S. Marshals Service purchases 260 BWCs to commence the phased implementation of Deputy United States Marshals (DUSMS) wearing and activating BWCs on task force operations.

  • October 2021

    Phase 1 implementation begins.

  • January 2022

    Basic Deputy United States Marshal (BDUSM) Course Body Worn Camera training begins at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

  • August 2022

    The U.S. Marshals Service makes publicly available interim USMS Policy Directive 2.11, Body Worn Cameras.

  • October 2022

    U.S. Marshals Service purchases 680 additional Body Worn Cameras for Phase 2 implementation.

  • November 2022

    The U.S. Marshals Service Video Retention System Privacy Impact Assessment is approved by the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties and published to Justice.gov.

  • January 2023

    Phase 2 Implementation begins.

  • February 2023

    U.S. Marshals Service purchases 550 additional Body Worn Cameras for Phase 3 implementation.

  • March 2023

    M/GA and S/GA Phase 2 implementation

  • April 2023

    D/MD and CARFTF/SOIB Phase 3 implementation

  • May 2023

    S/TX Phase 2 implementation

  • June 2023

    D/OR, GLRFTF, M/TN, and C/CA BWC implementation.

  • July 2023

    DC/SC, S/MS, E/MI, and W/MO BWC implementation.

  • August 2023

    D/AZ, W/TN, HQ, M/AL, and N/TX BWC implementation.

  • September 2023

    D/DE, and S/FL BWC implementation.

  • November 2023

    Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) BWC implementation.

  • December 2023

    D/DC BWC implementation.

  • February 2024

    S/IL and E/VA BWC implementation.

  • March 2024

    N/OK, W/OK, S/AL, D/NV, S/OH (Partial), C/IL, and E/TX BWC implementation.

  • April 2024

    N/AL, W/KY, N/MS, E/OK, E/TN, W/AR, N/IN, and GCRFTF BWC implementation.

  • May 2024

    N/IN, W/LA, and N/OH BWC implementation.

Did you know?

  • The Body Worn Camera Program Office (BWCPO) has equipped 1,853 (48.5%) Deputy U.S. Marshals with BWCs as of May 9, 2024

  • The Body Worn Camera Program Office (BWCPO) has onboarded 322 Task Force Officer Agencies, including 1,137 Task Force Officers (26.2%) as of May 9, 2024.