The Relationship Between Media Engagement and Procedural Justice

ABSTRACT

Recent research has examined the relationship between individuals’ news media consumption and attitudes toward police, including how media preferences influence individuals’ perceptions of procedural justice. Building on this work, the current study examines the impact of mass communication engagement on attitudes toward procedural justice among college students in the United States. Using a sample of students from five universities, our results provide evidence that mass communication engagement plays an important role in explaining attitudes toward procedural justice. In contrast to findings reported in prior research on media engagement and procedural justice, we found that Internet news and social media engagement is negatively associated with procedural justice.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heeuk D. Lee

Dr. Heeuk D. Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Weber State University. His research focuses on citizens’ perceptions of the police, community policing, and fear of crime. His work has appeared in the Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, and International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice.

David Kim

David Kim is a lecturer in Criminal Justice at Indiana University East. He received his Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Washington State University. His research interests include comparative policing, police discretion, and police contact.

Matthew Armocida

Matthew Armocia is a graduate student in the Department of Criminal Justice at Weber State University. His research interests involve procedural justice and fear of crime.

Bradford W. Reyns

Bradford W. Reyns is a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Weber State University. His research focuses on different dimensions of criminal victimization, crime prevention, and policing.