Justice under scrutinity. Citizens’ expectations and experiences (C.Vigour, B.Cappellina, L.Dumoulin, V.Gautron, La justice en examen, Paris, Puf, 2022)

Session Submission Type: Author meets critics

Abstract

This book examines how citizens perceive the police, the judicial system and policies in France, and how their representations and experiences fuel or undermine the confidence they have in justice, and affect the authority and legitimacy of the judicial institution.
According to citizens, law and justice contribute to the building of society, by defining common references and a framework for living together. Their role is perceived as social more than political. Citizens express very idealized expectations regarding the judicial system.
Citizens put forward three main criticisms. The first concerns the bureaucratic organisation and functioning of the justice system, both in terms of delays and regarding the risk of standardisation, or dehumanisation, of judicial treatment. Second, the criteria that citizens use to assess the work of the police, magistrates and lawyers differ in part from those of professionals. Third, a social and political criticism refers to justice as an instrument of domination. A strong tension is expressed between what justice should be in a democratic society (a law that is accessible and equal for all) and what citizens perceive it to be: a place where socio-economic, gender and race inequalities are reproduced or even amplified.
With regard to criminal justice, beyond the general discourse on the lack of severity, citizens expect sentences with an educational dimension, which allow the perpetrator to become aware of the meaning of the law and the seriousness of the facts. Going into the making of judgements reveals that the respondents are less punitive when faced with concrete cases. The book give insight about what is a “just” sentence according to citizens.

Subtopic

• Topic 6: Perceptions of Crime and Justice / Attitudes about Punishment and Criminal Justice System

Critics

• Adam Crawford, University of York

• Jacqueline E Ross, University of Illinois College of Law

• Vincenzo Scalia, Universita' di Firenze

Book Author

• Cécile Vigour, CNRS (French National Center for Scientific research) - Sciences Po Bordeaux (France)