“The Case for Body Cameras: Ensuring Accountability in Law Enforcement”

Model Outline – Persuasive Speech
Purpose:
To persuade my classmates that law enforcement officials should be required to use body cameras at all times.
I. Introduction
Teaser: Discussion of Michael Brown incident.
Thesis: Law enforcement officials should be required to wear body cameras.
Preview Statement: In this speech, I will first discuss the problems that arise from the lack of a video record of police-civilian interactions; second, discuss how that problem is caused by a lack of accountability; and, third, argue body cameras will alleviate this problem.
Transition: Before examining why cameras are so important, let’s look at the problems that arise when cameras are not present.
II. Body
a. Main Point 1: The problems due to a lack of video evidence are significant.
Decreases credibility of witnesses.
Allows for police abuse.
Prevents analysis of incidents for decreasing future incidents.
Transition: Now that we understand the problems, let’s look at some of the causes.
b. Main Point 2: Resistance to the accountability of wearing body cameras is great.
Resistance from police unions.
Resistance from governmental bodies.
Transition: Despite this resistance, there are things we can do to reduce this problem.
c. Main Point 3: Solutions are available at the federal, local, and personal level.
Federal level
Local level
Personal level
Transition: So, as you can see, requiring body cameras is necessary.
III. Conclusion
Restate Main Points: Serious problems arise when video evidence is not available, resistance to such accountability is great, however, we can take steps to solve this problem.
Restate Thesis: Law enforcement officials should be required to wear body cameras.
Clincher: Story of how protests and bad blood could have been prevented through body camera technology