The Importance of Procedural Justice and Legitimacy in Law Enforcement Practices with Vulnerable People

• In Event: POL Panel 22. Trust, legitimacy and vulnerability: Exploring law enforcement practices and their impact

Abstract

This paper begins by exploring the theoretical concepts of procedural justice and legitimacy. Drawing from real-world examples and findings across various law enforcement areas such as police interrogations, asylum interviews, and closed youth institutions, it aims to understand why procedural justice and legitimacy are crucial, especially when dealing with vulnerable individuals. Additionally, the paper examines the circumstances under which procedural justice and legitimacy principles may be misrepresented in practice and the negative impact of such misrepresentation on these important principles.

Author

• Els Dumortier, Vrije Universiteit Brussel