Yes: People Behave Differently When They're Being Watched

As a trial judge, I have heard hundreds of cases involving charges of false arrest and excessive force by the police. All of these cases turn on credibility. The victim (assuming he or she is alive) tells the story from his or her perspective, and the police officers (often more than two) tell their story. The jury is left in the difficult and uncomfortable position of deciding which side is telling the truth and which side is providing false testimony.

One example makes the point. In a criminal case in Chicago, five police officers swore under oath that they pulled a suspect over...

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