This letter features reporting from "Body Cameras Were Supposed To Hold Police Accountable — But Getting Footage Is Harder Than You Think" by Natasha S. Alford
Dear Senator Winfield,
In the United States, body-worn cameras have long been considered a crucial tool in enhancing police accountability. Research conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that, as of November 2018, 47% of general-purpose police departments nationwide have adopted body-worn cameras. For larger police departments, this figure rises to 80%. Despite these numbers, however, systemic issues in law enforcement persist, and public trust remains fragile.
In an article published by theGrio and supported by the Pulitzer Center, a panel of attorneys, researchers, and activists were asked to review body camera footage from three separate police encounters in New York state, California, and Tennessee. The three cases included the arrest of a man wanted for felony domestic violence in Richmond, California; the arrest of two men during crowd control in Rochester, New York; and the beating that led to the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee.
In each case, footage had been carefully curated and edited from multiple body-worn cameras. The panel was asked only to consider what was being shown to them, preventing them from consulting any additional sources of evidence. When asked to describe what the footage portrayed, the group could not agree on what they saw and heard. One thing, however, was clear: the body camera footage presented had only told one side of the story.
This issue is all too familiar in my hometown of New Haven, where the tragic case of Randy Cox underscored the failure of body cameras to deter misconduct. Handcuffed in the back of a police van, a paralyzed Mr. Cox suffered severe injuries when a sudden brake hurled him into a metal partition. Despite video evidence showing officers mocking his injured state and neglecting his care, accountability only came after immense public outcry and legal action, culminating in a $45 million settlement—the largest of its kind in U.S. history. This case revealed that footage alone does not equate to heightened accountability.
Since then, Connecticut has taken steps to address these gaps. In May 2024, Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation requiring all Connecticut police departments to implement training on body camera usage, particularly in regards to protocols on pausing recordings. This requirement, effective as of October 2024, aims to enhance the reliability and transparency of body camera footage.
However, body-worn cameras are a distraction from the fact that systemic racism remains deeply rooted in our justice system. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by police misconduct, as evidenced by a 2020 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The report found that people of color are more likely to experience use of excessive force by law enforcement, with Black and Hispanic Americans reporting above average rates of 63% and 54%t, respectively. This fosters deep mistrust among communities of color.
Within New Haven, several efforts have aimed to strengthen police accountability, including the establishment of a Civilian Review Board to review and investigate cases of police misconduct. However, the board’s efficacy is hindered by numerous vacancies, leaving it with limited administrative capacity. Addressing these vacancies is crucial to ensuring that the board can fulfill its mission of holding law enforcement accountable and rebuilding community trust. Additionally, opening such committees up to public testimony would allow for community voices to guide law enforcement reforms more effectively.
At the federal level, strengthening oversight under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 offers another avenue for progress. The Department of Justice currently intervenes in police departments only after complaints of race-based discrimination. Expanding Title VI enforcement to require evidence of efforts to address racial bias as a condition for federal funding would encourage widespread reform and compliance with civil rights laws.
True police accountability begins with cultivating deep, meaningful relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Connecticut has already made great strides in this area, and I am confident that with your continued leadership and advocacy, our state can lead the nation towards a more equitable and just system. Thank you for your consideration of this matter, and I look forward to continued action and dialogue surrounding the enhancement of police accountability.
Sincerely,
Rania Mrinaalini Das

Rania Das is a junior at Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut.
Her passion for juvenile justice was sparked when she read The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City by Nicholas Dawidoff, motivating her to explore ways to address systemic issues within the juvenile justice system.
Rania serves as a Youth Representative on the City of New Haven's Youth Commission, where she advocates for proactive interventions designed to address the root causes affecting youth, both in her community and across the state.
Rania co-chairs the New Haven Community Expertise Workgroup of the State of Connecticut Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee (JJPOC), working closely with justice-involved youth and their families to amplify their voices in shaping meaningful policies. Her commitment to creative advocacy led her to create a short film examining arts-based interventions in the juvenile justice system, highlighting the intersection of the arts and mental health.
At school, Rania is actively involved in the Maroon Key (community service) and Diversity Boards, sings in a cappella, and co-leads the Hopkins Dance Crew. Outside of school and her advocacy work, Rania enjoys exploring music, dance, and cuisines from around the world. She sees them as powerful tools for uniting people across different cultures and backgrounds.
Read more winning entries from the 2024 Local Letters for Global Change contest!