IMPACTS OF THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS ON THE PREVENTION OF ABUSE OF AUTHORITY BY MILITARY POLICE OFFICERS

Abstract

The present work aims to analyze, from a legal-constitutional perspective, the impacts of the adoption of body cameras by military police officers as an instrument to prevent abuses of authority, especially in the context of the state of Maranhão. The actions of public security forces, notably in regions marked by social inequality, have been the target of criticism due to practices that violate fundamental rights, such as the right to life, physical integrity, and the dignity of the human person, all guaranteed by the Federal Constitution of 1988 (art. 1, III; art. 5, caput). Based on the analysis of statistical data and implementation experiences in other federative units, such as the state of São Paulo, the effectiveness of portable operational cameras as a mechanism for external control of police activity and for reinforcing the principle of accountability in the public sector is investigated (art. 37, caput, CF/88). In parallel, Bill No. 139/2024, currently in progress in the Legislative Assembly of Maranhão, which aims to make the use of this equipment mandatory by security agents, is examined. The proposal is part of the legal framework of Law No. 13,869/2019, which typifies the crimes of abuse of authority, and represents an advance in the process of institutionalizing good public security practices in light of the principles of legality, morality, publicity, and efficiency (CF/88, art. 37).