Community mental health journal vol. 50, issue 3, p281-287
The article discusses Perceived Procedural Justice Theory (PPJ); a central factor shaping perceptions about authority figures and dispute resolution processes is whether an individual believes they were treated justly and fairly during personal encounters with agents of authority. It talks about how the role of police officers and other agents in authority are perceived by people with mental illness. Although the article is a community-based research study examining perceptions of people with mental illness, I believe this theory could be applied to the general public, and in particular to my assigned community, Ferguson Missouri. It points out the cornerstone of policing is front line patrol officers, whose ability to carry out their duties effectively are impacted by how they are perceived by the community.
According to this theory, a central factor shaping perceptions about authority figures and dispute resolutions processes is whether an individual believes they were treated justly and fairly during personal encounters with agents of authority. Unjust and unfair treatment by agents of authority is likely to produce negative evaluations. The theory stipulates that PPJ regarding agents of the law (e.g., police officers, judges, correctional officers) is important for shaping beliefs regarding whether legal authorities can be entrusted with the responsibilities of performing their duties, which in turn determines levels of compliance, cooperation, and law-abiding behavior. The article states that numerous studies have found that members of the general public who feel treated in a procedurally just manner by the police are more likely to: (a) evaluate the encounter positively, (b) view the police as legitimate agents of social intervention, and (c) cooperate with the police. I agree with the study in that the degree to which community members are willing to engage proactively and cooperate voluntarily with the police is also integral to the efficacy.
Procedural justice theory provides a framework for understanding how perceptions about authorities, such as the police, are created, maintained and transformed. The article examined the influence of selected factors on how people with mental illness perceive their interactions with the police. The semi structured interview guide contained detailed questions regarding participants’ lifetime and most recent police encounters, and included several scales from the “Police Contact Experience Scale” (PCES). The PCES is a measure for assessing situational, procedural, and interpersonal aspects of interactions between people with mental illness and the police. Residents in Ferguson Missouri almost sixty three percent black, have a negative perception about authority there. The judicial structure in Ferguson is predominately white.
Findings indicate that participants’ evaluations of police interactions were greatly influenced by how they perceived police officers’ behavior on aspects of fairness, respectfulness, and kindness. Overall participants’ interactions with police were viewed as positive. They reported the police acted, for the most part, in a procedurally just manner.
Would a sample of your assigned community agree that their interactions/outcomes with police would be based on quality of treatment by police, quality of police decision-making, and police performance?
Could communities lower their crime rate if they had greater cooperation and acceptance of agent’s authority?
This causes me to think back to what I learned in the ethics class. How does one change a cultural precept and thus actions towards another? It seems that this issue exist on both sides with learned behavior. If one expects ____ reaction, then one would have an attitude of justification, self-defense, low expectations, etc.. that would then affect the actions of another. Cultural Immersion education? Cheri
ReplyDelete