Procedural Justice Training and Police–Citizen Encounters
Background
Procedural justice plays a key role in shaping how citizens experience and perceive interactions with street-level bureaucrats, particularly police officers. As tensions around police–community relations have intensified, procedural justice training has become a central strategy for improving the quality of police–citizen encounters.
Purpose
This study examines procedural justice training in U.S. state-mandated police academies using a mixed-methods approach. It analyzes both the amount and content of procedural justice training across states and explores how police officers understand and interpret these concepts in practice.
Outcome
The analysis identifies shortcomings in the length of procedural justice training and reveals gaps between what training emphasizes and how officers perceive its relevance and application. The study offers practical recommendations to strengthen procedural justice competencies through training, with the goal of improving police–citizen interactions and public service delivery.