Policing Immigrants: Using a Short Procedural Justice Encounter with Police to Promote Trust and Cooperation

• In Event: Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy in Neighborhoods (II)

Abstract

Procedural justice has been regarded as central to improving public trust and confidence in police. Yet little research exists exploring the link between procedural justice policing and trust among immigrants. This paper reports findings from the world’s first randomized experimental field trial of procedural justice policing. The trial aimed to test whether police could use procedural justice during short, routine traffic stops to increase the public’s trust in police. Using survey data from citizens exposed to the trial (N=2762), we found that trust in police, but not willingness to report crime to police, was higher among citizens who had been exposed to procedural justice policing. Interestingly, the effect of procedural justice policing on trust and crime reporting was moderated by the respondents’ age and country of birth. Specifically, procedural justice was found to have a more positive effect with immigrants, and in particular immigrants younger than 25 years of age.

Authors

• Kristina Murphy, Griffith University

• Lorraine Mazerolle, University of Queensland