Do Perceptions of Legitimacy and Fairness Matter in Prison? Examining How Procedural and Distributive Justice Relate to Misconduct

Authors

Christopher M. Campbell, Portland State UniversityFollow
Ryan M. Labrecque, Portland State UniversityFollow
Roger L. Schaefer, Central Washington University
Molly Harvis, Portland State UniversityFollow
Karma Rose Zavita, University of California, Irvine
Leah Noelle Reddy, Portland State UniversityFollow
Kayla J. LaBranche, Portland State UniversityFollow

Published In

Criminal Justice and Behavior

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

5-2020

Abstract

Recent scholarship suggests disciplinary protocols and incarcerated individuals’ perceptions of procedural justice toward correctional officers may be important in influencing one’s behavior and prison order. This study provides an examination of procedural and distributive justice in prison. We surveyed a stratified random sample of 144 respondents incarcerated in Maine state prisons about their perceptions toward the disciplinary process and corrections officers to assess the relationship between such views and patterns of institutional misconduct. Findings provide partial support for the procedural justice perspective in prison. Normative perceptions (e.g., legitimacy) are positively associated with voluntary deference measures while instrumental perceptions of officer effectiveness in controlling behavior are positively associated with respondent perceived risk. These results supply insight into theory development related to voluntary deference. Similarly, these findings can inform which relationships between officers and respondents may hold the potential to promote rule compliance and prison order.

Description

Copyright © 2020 by International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

Locate the Document

https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854820916901

DOI

10.1177/0093854820916901

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33195

Citation Details

Campbell, C. M., Labrecque, R. M., Schaefer, R. L., Harvis, M., Zavita, K. R., Reddy, L., & Labranche, K. (2020). Do Perceptions of Legitimacy and Fairness Matter in Prison? Examining How Procedural and Distributive Justice Relate to Misconduct. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 0093854820916901.