What is Procedural Justice?

Procedural justice refers to the fairness and transparency of the processes by which decisions are made and carried out. It is based on the idea that people care more about the procedures by which the outcomes are achieved, not the outcomes of their experiences. It is a concept within organizational psychology and sociology, particularly in law and justice systems, but it also applies to various other contexts such as workplace environments, educational institutions, and government procedures.

Why does procedural justice matter?

Citizens carefully observe police behavior during their encounters with the police, and the literature suggests that every interaction, including the most minor personal interactions, with the police can have a strong influence on people’s perceptions of the police. Research demonstrates that citizens are more likely to comply with police orders and perceive the police as legitimate when officers behave in a procedurally just manner during their encounters with them.