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Hillsborough superintendent backs amendment to let county corrections staff wear body cameras
Summary
A Hillsborough County corrections superintendent told the Senate Judiciary Committee an amendment to HB 12‑36 would allow county corrections officers to wear body‑worn cameras in facilities and during community supervision, helping de‑escalation and investigations while raising operational and privacy questions.
Sen. Tara Reardon introduced an amendment to HB 12‑36 to permit county corrections staff to use body‑worn cameras inside facilities and while on duty in the community.
Joe Stanzo, superintendent of the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections, testified the amendment would place county corrections under RSA 105‑D — the same statutory framework that governs law‑enforcement body cameras. "I've been in the business for 18 years now, and I can tell you that individuals' behaviors inside the facility when they know they're being audio‑video recorded, do de‑escalate," Stanzo said, explaining the cameras can aid investigations, reduce staff assaults and help PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) investigations.
Stanzo told the committee the department currently manages some monitoring inside jails but lacks body‑worn audio/video and said the change would require training, policy updates and likely vendor support because the department's current vendor software does not support all the envisioned functions. He said policy would be needed to address situations such as hospital transports and HIPAA concerns: "If it's subject to be off due to HIPAA, obviously, that's definitely a consideration for that," Stanzo said.
Advocates and a victim‑services representative asked how policies would protect survivors' privacy and ensure recordings are used appropriately; Stanzo and other witnesses said policies would mirror statutory limits for law enforcement and include training and retention rules. The committee heard no formal objections from law‑enforcement stakeholders and closed the hearing after brief questioning.
The committee did not take a final vote on the amendment during the session; sponsors asked staff to refine statutory references and policy language ahead of a future meeting.
