Procedural Justice in Their Eyes: A Qualitative Interview Study Among Detainees.

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Social Psychology
• Law and Justice Studies

Background:

• Existing research on procedural justice primarily focuses on its effects on legitimacy and behavior.
• There is a need to understand the role of procedural justice perceptions in individual encounters with authorities.
• Investigating the specific factors that constitute procedural (un)fairness is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the significance of procedural justice in the experiences of justice-involved individuals.
• To identify the core elements that shape detainees' perceptions of procedural fairness during their interactions with criminal justice authorities.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews.
• Conducted interviews with 35 detainees incarcerated in a Dutch prison.
• Explored encounters with police, prison staff, judges, and probation officers.

Main Results:

• Procedural justice is a significant concern for the majority of detainees.
• Five key elements emerged as crucial for detainees' perceptions of procedural justice: trustworthy motives, interpersonal treatment, neutrality, participation, and agency/process information.
• These elements were consistently reported across various types of encounters with criminal justice authorities.

Conclusions:

• Procedural justice plays a vital role in the experiences of individuals within the criminal justice system.
• Understanding the specific components of procedural fairness is essential for improving interactions between authorities and justice-involved individuals.
• The findings highlight the importance of trustworthy motives, respectful treatment, neutrality, participation, and information in shaping perceptions of justice.