Situational Determinants of Procedural Justice: Do Negative Outcomes Outweigh Fair Procedures?

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

Procedural justice scholars state that the citizen’s perception of fairness in policing is improved when the officer maintains impartial and respectful. Building upon previous literature, this study suggests situational factors that increase the negativity of police contacts undermine the perception of procedural justice when other (individual, community) characteristics are controlled for. Drawn from the Police-Public Contact Survey (PPCS) data collected in 2011, the present study examines whether 1) citizens who initiated police contacts are more likely to report high levels of procedural justice; 2) citizens who received more regulatory police actions are less likely to report the police as legitimate. Findings support that citizens interpret police actions as proportionately unjust based on negative outcomes they anticipate.

Author

• Heejin Lee, University of Cincinnati