Procedural Justice Elements in Police Encounters with the Public: Accounting for “Participation,” “Neutrality,” “Dignity and Respect” and “Trustworthy Motives” in Police Behavior

• In Event: Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy in Neighborhoods (I)

Abstract

Procedural justice refers to the fairness of the processes by which the police exercise their authority. Many studies have shown that police procedural justice encourages citizen cooperation and compliance, but few have examined what encourages or discourages acts of procedural justice. In this paper we consider separately each of the four elements of procedural justice (participation, neutrality, dignity and respect, and trustworthy motives). We use systematic observations of police-citizen interactions in two U.S. police departments, while focusing on the characteristics of the situation, officer and citizens involved as potential predictors. Our analysis considers the extent to which the separate elements of procedural justice are driven by the same or different antecedents. Our analysis reveals some similarities, as well as important differences, between the mechanisms that produce these four types of procedurally fair police behaviors. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Tal Jonathan-Zamir, Hebrew University

• Stephen Mastrofski, George Mason University

• Shomron Moyal, Hebrew University

• James J. Willis, George Mason University