Advancing equity through procedural justice: A study of serious adolescent offending

Abstract

A growing body of research suggests that fairness within the criminal justice processes can be effective in reducing crime and recidivism. Procedural justice, sometimes called procedural fairness, refers to perceived fairness within criminal justice processes, even when outcomes are not viewed as favorable. It accomplishes law abidance by fostering a “buy-in” to laws and directives that enhances cooperation and consent. The significance of procedural justice lies particularly in its ability to promote voluntary, long-term compliance. Drawing on the Pathways to Desistance dataset, this longitudinal research study used negative binomial regression to examine the impact of procedural justice and legitimacy on frequency of offending counts among adolescents who self-reported serious offenses. Study results indicated that overall, procedural justice predicted decreases in offending among participants. The impacts of race, sex, and exposure to peer delinquency are also addressed alongside implications for research and practical applications.