Stakeholder perceptions on improving police complaint systems: Procedural justice, confidence, transparency, and legitimacy

• In Event: Police Complaints: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Although we are gaining an understanding on the complainant experience with the police complaints system, we know very little about the perceptions of divergent stakeholders on the changes needed to improve the process and equability of filing and investigating allegations of police misconduct. Over 150 members of the community, law enforcement, and policy-makers were brought together to collaboratively develop recommendations to improve the transparency, accessibility, and accountability of the police complaints system. Using participant observation, survey, and focus group data, the findings suggest the underlying themes for distrust of the investigation process and the reluctance to report, particularly by high risk and marginalized populations, are important contextual elements. Stakeholder confidence cannot be separated from the principles of procedural justice and due process constraints that shape views on police legitimacy. Satisfaction with social control institutions is less about the outcome but more on perceived fairness and the process by which sanctions are imposed. The implication is that any improvements to a police complaints system must account for the lack of understanding of stakeholder positions in the process (e.g. police investigating police) and if the system is transparent and accountable that legalistic responses are not always the answer.

Authors

• Jennifer Schulenberg, University of Waterloo

• Sonya Buffone, University of Waterloo

• Allison Chenier, University of Waterloo

• Christine Wojciechowski, University of Waterloo

• Damian Sycz, University of Waterloo