Perceptions of police work among civil police recruits in São Paulo (Brazil)

• In Event: POLWG Panel 3: Trust in policing: Reflections on police legitimacy and procedural justice

Abstract

Studies on procedural justice show that in order to strengthen the legitimacy of an authority, it is essential that the decisions it makes are recognized as fair by those subject to those decisions. Procedural justice means that the authority exercises its power impartially, presenting justifications for the decisions made, giving people a voice to present their side of the story, and always treating people with dignity and respect. These are fundamental factors for people to recognize authority as fair and legitimate and to submit to it voluntarily. This paper presents an analysis of a survey of 376 civil police recruits conducted in 2024 in São Paulo, Brazil. The Civil Police is responsible for serving the population at police stations, more specifically for recording and investigating crimes. The analysis explores the perceptions of recruits about procedural justice and the use of force in police work, taking into account the motivations that led these recruits to choose a police career. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Authors

• Viviane de Oliveira Cubas, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

• Frederico Castelo Branco, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil