Challey Spotlight: Carol Archbold

Challey Faculty Fellow

Dr. Carol Archbold, is a Walter F. and Verna Gehrts Endowed Professor and Challey Institute for Global Innovation & Growth Faculty Fellow at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND.  She has been employed by NDSU since 2005.  She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses focused on policing and research methods.  Her research interests include police accountability, liability and misconduct, risk management in policing, women and policing, and race issues in the criminal justice system.  Dr. Archbold has published her research in a variety of criminal justice and police journals and has authored or co-authored five books centered on policing issues.  

What inspired you to become a Challey Faculty Fellow?      I was inspired to become a Challey Faculty Fellow because I was drawn to the Challey Institute’s mission, which is to “generate research aimed at providing insights and knowledge that will benefit the region, the nation, and the world, tackling important questions surrounding economic opportunity and human flourishing.” My research interests closely align with the human flourishing portion of the Challey Institute’s mission.  I appreciate being part of the Challey team because it provides an opportunity to learn about research being conducted in other disciplines across the NDSU campus.

Tell us more about your most recent research. Any particularly interesting findings or takeaways we should know?      I surveyed Fargo police officers regarding their perceptions of the use of body worn cameras (BWCs) several months before they began using the technology and once again after they had used the technology for one year.  Some of the main findings include the following:

There was an increase in agreement among Fargo police officers that they support the use of BWCs by all patrol officers when comparing survey responses before they used BWCs with responses after they utilized the technology.  There was also an increase in agreement among officers that BWCs increase transparency and officer accountability. In addition, there was an increase in agreement among officers that they have experienced an improvement in job performance and morale as a result of utilizing BWCs, and that this technology makes their job easier. 

After wearing the BWCs for one year, more officers reported that:
•    BWCs do not restrict officer use of discretion;
•    BWCs do not result in officers hesitating when making decisions;
•    BWCs do not result in officers feeling like they had less discretion while on duty;
•    BWCs do not influence officers’ decisions to use higher levels of force.  

Critics of BWC technology argue that the technology increases danger to officers as they may second guess themselves during high stress, volatile situations. The survey responses provided by Fargo police officers suggest that they do not agree with the critics. They do not believe that this technology restricts their ability to make decisions while on duty.

The next step with this research is to examine whether the use of BWCs has had any impact on arrests, use of force incidents, and citizen complaints involving Fargo police officers.  

What is one thing you hope your students take away from being in your class? How are you preparing them for their future career?      Many of the students who take my classes are hoping to have careers in policing.  My hope is that they take what they learn in my classes and apply it when they interact with citizens on the streets in the future.  Specifically, I want them to understand that every interaction they have with citizens directly contributes to how the community perceives the police.  Their actions and words matter.  I also hope that my students remember the importance of data-driven policies, operations, and training within police agencies.  A common theme in all of my courses is the infusion of science and research into the policing profession.

The Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth aims to advance understanding in the areas of innovation, trade, institutions, and human potential to identify policies and solutions for the betterment of society. Learn more at www.ndsu.edu/challeyinstitute