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dc.titleProcedural Justice and Police Legitimacy: Evidence from a Vignette Experiment in Central America
dc.contributor.authorPerez-Vincent, Santiago M.
dc.contributor.authorPuebla, David
dc.contributor.orgunitInnovation in Citizen Services Division
dc.coverageHonduras
dc.coverageCentral America
dc.date.available2024-07-11T00:07:00
dc.date.issue2024-07-11T00:07:00
dc.description.abstractThis paper examines the impact of procedural justice and sanctions on police legitimacy in a middle-income context using a between-subjects vignette experiment among civilians and police officers in Honduras. The scenarios involved civilian--police interactions following a minor infraction, varying in whether the police officer treated the civilian respectfully or disrespectfully, and whether a sanction (fine) was imposed. Respectful treatment increased satisfaction, acceptance of decisions, and willingness to cooperate, while sanctions had the opposite effects on these variables. Sanctions lowered the perceived likelihood of repeating the infraction, whereas respectful treatment had no effect on it. Results were similar for civilians and police officers, though officers assigned greater importance to procedural justice. The study concludes that, while sanctions deter repeated infractions, they can erode legitimacy if not applied respectfully, highlighting the importance of procedural justice in civilian--police interactions. The positive impact of procedural justice among both civilians and officers perceptions supports the desirability and feasibility of its application in this context.
dc.format.extent45
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0013056
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Procedural-Justice-and-Police-Legitimacy-Evidence-from-a-Vignette-Experiment-in-Central-America-.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInter-American Development Bank
dc.subjectCrime Prevention
dc.subjectJustice Administration
dc.subjectPolice Officer
dc.subjectCriminal Justice
dc.subjectPolice Force
dc.subjectPolice Service
dc.subjectPolice Corruption
dc.subjectCrime and Violence
dc.subjectTrust
dc.subjectIncome Distribution
dc.subject.jelcodeK20 - Regulation and Business Law: General
dc.subject.jelcodeH11 - Structure, Scope, and Performance of Government
dc.subject.keywordsKeywords: procedural justice;legitimacy;police;vignettes;Central America;honduras
idb.identifier.pubnumberIDB-WP-01583
idb.operationRG-E1740
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