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Questions, answers on cameras for Border Patrol

By WTOP Staff

ELLIOT SPAGAT
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The U.S. Border Patrol will begin testing the use of body cameras by agents on Oct. 1 at its training academy in Artesia, New Mexico. The White House has said requiring law enforcement officers to wear cameras could be a way to ease mistrust by the public.

WHY BODY CAMERAS?

Body cameras — small, lapel- or vest-mounted gadgets that record law enforcement interactions with the public — are gaining attention after the shooting of an unarmed black man last month by police in Ferguson, Missouri. The U.S. Justice Department says there is evidence that police and civilians behave better when cameras are present. In addition, footage can quickly resolve civilian complaints and lawsuits, and be used to train officers.

On the flip side, cameras are expensive and raise privacy concerns for officers and civilians.

WHO USES BODY CAMERAS?

The number of police agencies using cameras has grown, partly because the technology has become smaller and easier to use. When the New York Police Department announced a test run this month, Commissioner William Bratton predicted the devices would soon become as commonplace as police radios and bulletproof vests. Other police departments testing the cameras include Dallas and Los Angeles.

WHY THE BORDER PATROL?

Cameras gained traction under new Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief who has moved more aggressively than his predecessors to address widespread allegations of excessive force and misconduct among border agents and inspectors.

Customs and Border Protection’s new head of internal affairs, Mark Morgan, said last week that an initial review of hundreds of use-of-force incidents and accusations of misconduct by personnel since 2009 found 155 cases that merited more investigation, including one that resulted in death.

In May, Kerlikowske ordered the release of a highly critical report commissioned by the agency on 67 incidents involving use of deadly force from January 2010 to October 2012.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Border Patrol will test a variety of cameras and consider privacy issues such as when the devices should be turned on and off.

The National Border Patrol Council, which represents the vast majority of the roughly 21,000 agents, would need to sign off on camera use in the field.

The union says cameras could cause agents to hesitate when their lives are threatened, and managers could use them for fishing expeditions to punish certain agents.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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