Police legitimacy
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Police legitimacy is the extent to which members of the public view the police as higher power authority figure, often measured in terms of the public's willingness to obey and cooperate with the police.[1] Police legitimacy is linked to the degree of public support for, and cooperation with, the police's efforts to fight crime.[2] When a police officers ability and authority to effectively complete their job is compromised there is potential for a lack of police legitimacy.[3]
People who experience more procedural justice in police encounters view the police as more legitimate.[4] In contrast, order maintenance policing and widespread street stops appear to reduce police legitimacy among young men.[5][6] An increase in public support and compliance can only be accomplished if fair procedures are implemented. Police legitimacy can be achieved by increasing the public involvement in police proceedings by informing and explaining to them the process of the decisions being made.[7] The public makes judgments regarding the activities of police by evaluating their actions when conducting their duties, therefore, influencing their views about police legitimacy.[2]
Procedural Justice
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Procedural justice refers to the idea that the police, courts, and other government institutions should enforce the law in an unbiased and impartial process.[8] It consists of four main components that ensure that proper justice is administered to the public. Firstly, citizens should be allowed to participate and be informed about the proceedings before a governmental institution reaches a decision. Secondly, the procedure in question should make the public believe that the institution is reaching a decision in an unbiased manner. Thirdly, it shows that the institution in question has shown dignity and respect throughout the proceedings. Lastly, it should portray that the institution has motives in mind that benefit the citizens. Individuals who believe that they were dealt with in a procedurally just manner are more inclined to agree with the consequences they are facing for their actions. Procedural justice and police legitimacy are collectively linked meaning that a just procedure will promote the public's faith in law enforcement.[9]
See also
[edit]- Ferguson effect – Contested possibility of violent crime increasing with reduced proactive policing
- Legal cynicism – A negative perception of law enforcement
- Legitimation crisis – Decline of trust in authority
- Peelian principles – Philosophy defining ethical police force
References
[edit]- ^ Tankebe, Justice (April 2014). Kane, Robert J; Reisig, Michael D (eds.). Police Legitimacy. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199843886.001.0001. ISBN 9780199843886. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
{{cite book}}:|journal=ignored (help) - ^ a b Tyler, Tom R. (1 May 2004). "Enhancing Police Legitimacy". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 593 (1): 84–99. doi:10.1177/0002716203262627. S2CID 146778465.
- ^ "Race, Trust and Police Legitimacy". National Institute of Justice. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ Kochel, Tammy Rinehart (2012-06-01). "Can Police Legitimacy Promote Collective Efficacy?". Justice Quarterly. 29 (3): 384–419. doi:10.1080/07418825.2011.561805. ISSN 0741-8825. S2CID 144480286.
- ^ Gau, Jacinta M.; Brunson, Rod K. (April 2010). "Procedural Justice and Order Maintenance Policing: A Study of Inner-City Young Men's Perceptions of Police Legitimacy". Justice Quarterly. 27 (2): 255–279. doi:10.1080/07418820902763889.
- ^ Tyler, Tom R.; Fagan, Jeffrey; Geller, Amanda (December 2014). "Street Stops and Police Legitimacy: Teachable Moments in Young Urban Men's Legal Socialization". Journal of Empirical Legal Studies. 11 (4): 751–785. doi:10.1111/jels.12055. S2CID 10946576.
- ^ Harkin, Diarmaid (November 2015). "Police legitimacy, ideology and qualitative methods: A critique of procedural justice theory". Criminology & Criminal Justice. 15 (5): 594–612. doi:10.1177/1748895815580397. ISSN 1748-8958. S2CID 145224509.
- ^ Walters, Glenn D.; Bolger, P. Colin (2018-09-14). "Procedural justice perceptions, legitimacy beliefs, and compliance with the law: a meta-analysis". Journal of Experimental Criminology. 15 (3): 341–372. doi:10.1007/s11292-018-9338-2. ISSN 1573-3750. S2CID 150041013.
- ^ Mazerolle, Lorraine; Bennett, Sarah; Davis, Jacqueline; Sargeant, Elise; Manning, Matthew (2013-02-20). "Procedural justice and police legitimacy: a systematic review of the research evidence". Journal of Experimental Criminology. 9 (3): 245–274. doi:10.1007/s11292-013-9175-2. ISSN 1573-3750. S2CID 143057206.
Further reading
[edit]- Jackson, Jonathan, Bradford, Ben, Hough, Mike and Murray, K. H., ‘Compliance with the law and policing by consent: notes on police and legal legitimacy,’ in: Crawford, Adam, and Hucklesby, Anthea, (eds.) Legitimacy and Compliance in Criminal Justice (London, UK: Routledge, 2012) pp. 29-49. ISBN 9780415671569
- Jackson, Jonathan, Hough, Mike, Bradford, Ben, Hohl, Katrin and Kuha, Jouni (2012) Policing by consent: understanding the dynamics of police power and legitimacy. ESS country specific topline results series, 1. European Commission.
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