Open AccessReforming the police through procedural justice training: A multicity randomized trial at crime hot spots
Author(s) -
David Weisburd,
Cody W. Telep,
Heather Vovak,
Taryn Zastrow,
Anthony A. Braga,
Brandon Turchan
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2118780119
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , harassment , criminology , intervention (counseling) , procedural justice , economic justice , psychology , randomized experiment , criminal justice , criticism , perception , political science , social psychology , law , medicine , psychiatry , surgery , pathology , neuroscience
Significance Our study is a randomized trial in policing confirming that intensive training in procedural justice (PJ) can lead to more procedurally just behavior and less disrespectful treatment of people at high-crime places. The fact that the PJ intervention reduced arrests by police officers, positively influenced residents’ perceptions of police harassment and violence, and also reduced crime provides important guidance for police reform in a period of strong criticism of policing. This randomized trial points to the potential for PJ training not simply to encourage fair and respectful policing but also to improve evaluations of the police and crime prevention effectiveness.