The arc of procedural justice in a U.S. non-metro community: traffic stops and policing in the age of disruption

ABSTRACT

Despite overall support for law and order, policing in an age of sociopolitical disruption demands community-based strategies. While most well-publicized incidents involve violence, traffic stops remain the most common interaction between police and citizens. This study provides results of a quasi-experiment based on citizens’ reactions to traffic stops before and after officer training in a mid-size US town; we also include officer-level data, answering the dearth of both non-urban research and officer effects. Training followed procedural justice (PJ) principles. Findings demonstrate a positive effect of PJ training on citizens’ perception of police, though outcome (citation v. warning) matters. Data suggest positive response among officers’ attitudes toward PJ, but heterogeneity in behavior. Qualitative data further identified reticence regarding scripts and challenges in dealing with certain populations. Implications suggest that community input, local police culture, and everyday interactions are more important than general perceptions of policing practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Policing
• procedural justice
• non-metro
• evidence-based policing
• traffic stops
• racial bias

Disclosure statement

In accordance with Taylor & Francis policy and my ethical obligation as a researcher, I am reporting that I, as principal investigator, have received research funding from the police agency involved in this project. None of the funds were issued to me individually; all funds were for direct research costs, including the funding of a graduate assistant. I have disclosed those interests fully to Taylor & Francis, and I have in place an approved plan for managing any potential conflicts arising from such involvement.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

A portion of the research project was funded internally by the agency of study as part of an ongoing initiative toward evidence-based policing.

Notes on contributors

L. Susan Williams

L. Susan Williams, Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Kansas State University, specializes in policing, prisons, and juvenile justice. She has earned several research grants and awards, including support from the National Science Foundation, the IACP Excellence in Law Enforcement, and most recently from the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention. Dr. Williams serves in several national organizations including American Society of Criminologists and Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Josh Kyle

Josh Kyle is a captain with the Riley County (KS) Police Department, having served the community since August 1991. He has been heavily involved in police training which culminated in receiving Level IV Facilitator status through the Police Society for Problem-Based Learning. Captain Kyle has also been involved in operationalizing several new policing initiatives. He completed the 130th Administrative Officer’s Course at the Southern Police Institute and holds a Master of Science in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville.

Tim Hegarty

Tim Hegarty is a captain with the Riley County (KS) Police Department. His work has been recognized with the IACP/Sprint Bronze Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement Research, and he is a 2014 inductee of the Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame at George Mason University’s Center for Evidence-Based Policing Policy. He is also an Executive Fellow with the Police Foundation. He holds an MBA and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Lorenza Lockett

Lorenza Lockett, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Kansas State University, emphasizes that his passion is people, and he exhibits a drive toward encouraging interaction. He retired in 1994 from the US Army with 20 years, two months, and two days of active duty service.  He has ten years direct social work practice in Kansas, Arizona, and Georgia and presently teaches in the BSW Program at Kansas State University. His joy in life is helping people, with a life slogan of “people matter.”

John Grube

John Grube is currently a PhD student in Sociology at Kansas State University. His research focuses on sentencing outcomes, the plea bargaining and charging process, and policing. Prior to graduate school, John worked as both an appellate defense attorney and assistant district attorney in Kansas. Prior to law school, John worked as a police officer in Kansas City, Kansas. John is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, American Society of Criminology, and American Criminal Justice Society.