Examining Procedural Justice in Courtroom Interactions with Anti-Government/Anti-Authoritarian (AGAA) Believers

• In Event: U.S. Extremism and Terrorism: Perceptions, Threats, and Reponses

Abstract

This research investigates interactions between government actors and individuals with anti-government and anti-authoritarian (AGAA) beliefs, focusing on low-threat AGAA believers and those with significant criminal histories. Utilizing procedural justice principles (Tyler, 2006), we examined the presence of voice, neutrality, respect, and trust in these encounters. Our corpus included transcripts and court documents from sources such as the George Washington University Program on Extremism, PACER, Westlaw, and the Prosecution Project. We aimed to identify procedurally just interactions and their impact on non-hostile outcomes. Our findings provide guidance for frontline government actors to foster trust and reduce hostility, enhancing public safety. Beneficiaries include law enforcement agencies, legal professionals, policymakers, and counter-extremism organizations

Authors

• Sarah Harper, Texas A&M University - San Antonio

• Alex St. John, Texas A&M University - San Antonio