Perceptions of Procedural Justice and Self-Reported Delinquency Among Adolescents

• In Event: Police Contact, Procedural Justice, and Delinquency

Abstract

Perceived legitimacy is defined as the extent to which individuals view law enforcement agencies as fair and just, and perceived procedural justice refers to individual perceptions of fairness and justness of the procedures used by law enforcement. Recent studies have found that adults who report higher levels of perceived legitimacy and procedural justice towards agents of the law are more likely to obey the law. We add to the extant literature by examining the effects of perceptions of legitimacy and procedural justice on delinquency among adolescents. Additionally, we examine the correlates of perceived legitimacy and procedural justice. We use self-report survey data taken from a sample of approximately 800 male and female adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. First, we examine the effects of self-reported perceptions of procedural justice and legitimacy on self-reported delinquency, while controlling for relevant risk and protective factors of delinquency. Second, we examine the effects of demographic variables and exposure to police on perceptions of legitimacy and procedural justice while controlling for relevant risk and protective factors of delinquency. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of theoretical and policy implications for future research examining perceptions of legitimacy and procedural justice among adolescents.

Author

• Nancy Ann Morris, VCU