Contingency factors explaining policy adoption: body-worn camera policy across US states

Sunyoung Pyo ()
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Sunyoung Pyo: University at Albany-SUNY

Policy Sciences, 2020, vol. 53, issue 3, No 3, 413-435

Abstract: Abstract Policy researchers suggest that governments respond to societal problems with public policy. However, empirical evidence is mixed regarding the effect of problem severity on state policy adoption in diverse policy areas. One possible cause of these inconsistencies may be attributable to the fact that states’ other internal characteristics can affect the way problem severity influences state policy adoption. In this paper, I apply Mohr’s (1969) organizational innovation theory to the case of state body-worn camera (BWC) legislation. I examine how the interaction of problem severity with factors representing states’ obstacles against innovation and resources supporting innovation explains states’ adoption of BWC legislation. The results of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis support the importance of considering this interactive effect. Specifically, results suggest that the problem of police use of deadly force against minority residents has led to the adoption of BWC legislation only when strong resistance from police unions is absent, political or socioeconomic resources are present, or both. This study also discusses implications for scholars and policymakers about the important role of police unions in shaping policy related to police practice.

Keywords: Body-worn cameras; State policy adoption; Police accountability; Police unions; Qualitative comparative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s11077-020-09398-9

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