Explaining Police Legitimacy Perceptions among Small Business Owners in Detroit

• In Event: Legitimacy and Attitudes Toward the Police

Abstract

This study presents an assessment of procedural justice and police legitimacy perceptions among small business owners in Detroit. The main assumption of procedural justice and police legitimacy theory is that individuals will be less inclined to question the legitimacy of police if they believe police are making quality decisions and treating them with respect. Prior studies have found the relationship between procedural justice and police legitimacy perceptions to be stable across different ethnic groups and neighborhood contexts, however, little is known about these processes in the business community. This study focuses on the attitudes of small business owners in a high-crime urban area, and discusses the implications for police partnerships with the business community.

Authors

• Vaughn Joel Crichlow, Florida Atlantic University

• Edmund F. McGarrell, Michigan State University