This block of instruction is intended to be delivered to police recruits attending the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois.

Student Performance Objectives

1. Explain how police legitimacy can impact officer safety.
2. Explain how police legitimacy can influence policing outcomes.
3. Demonstrate the applicability of procedural justice principles to high-stress encounters.
4. Identify reasons why police may lose community support as described using contemporary and historical events.
5. Describe how changing functions of policing in America have, over time, impacted the public perception of police legitimacy.
6. Explain how utilizing procedural justice principles can mitigate the challenges and stresses of police work on the officer and discuss examples.
7. Link practices of internal procedural justice with the implementation of procedural justice in interactions external to an agency and in the community.
8. Define the four pillars of procedural justice.
9. Contrast between policing authority and police legitimacy.
10. Synthesize potential outcomes from the application of procedural justice as a community policing strategy in common policing scenarios.
11. Discuss how historic and contemporary policing strategies have and do impact public trust and perceptions of police legitimacy.
12. Present examples of communication skills that enhance interactions with the public.

Instructional Time:

This module should be completed within 4 hours. There will be a quiz or reflection exam at the end of the day.

Materials Needed:

1. Computer
2. Notebook

Procedural Justice focuses on the way police and other legal authorities interact with the public, and how the characteristics of those interactions shape the public's views of the police, their willingness to obey the law, and real crime rates.

In this video (below) we will see Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt speak to why this matters to us (Next Big Idea Club, 2020). This video talks about how our brain processes the information that it observes as well as how citizens and police officers need to be aware of this. She also talks about why it is imperative that police officers practice procedural justice throughout their careers so as not to become jaded or increase bias.

Video 1: Selective Attention and Procedural Justice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcy-Mj8xTJ8

Discussion Board: Take a moment and reflect on the following questions. Create a post in the discussion board (50 words minimum). Be ready to share your answer in class.

1. What are some barriers to good policing?
2. Take a moment and reflect on your own experiences with the authority of law enforcement. How has this shaped your view of policing?
3. Take a moment of self-reflection to think about your own biases. Looking at a personal assumption or prior interaction with law enforcement, add the lens of procedural justice. What does this look like?
4. What can we do to change our view? Does it need to change? 

Four Pillars of Procedural Justice [Image] (Tyler, 2004)

Fig 1: Four Pillars of Procedural Justice: (Tyler, 2004)

Group Work: After the lecture, discuss these pillars as used or seen in a scenario. Three people will be needed to read the roles of Narrator, Officer Taylor, and Mr. Ramirez.

Scenario:

Narrator: Officer Taylor is patrolling a residential area known for occasional speeding. As she is driving down the street, she spots a car, driven by Mr. Ramirez, speeding well above the posted speed limit. She pulls the car over, activates her siren, and approaches the driver's side window. Officer Taylor knocks on the window calmly.

Officer Taylor: "Good evening, sir. My name is Officer Taylor, and I stopped you because I noticed you were going over the speed limit on this road. The posted speed limit here is 25 miles per hour, and you were traveling at 40 miles per hour. May I ask what was going on?"

Narrator: Mr. Ramirez looks nervous.

Mr. Ramirez: "Oh, Officer, I’m really sorry! I was just trying to get home quickly. I didn’t realize I was going that fast. I’ve had a long day, and I wasn’t paying attention to the speedometer."

Officer Taylor: "I understand. It's easy to get caught up when you're in a rush. I appreciate your honesty in explaining that. It’s important, though, for everyone’s safety, that we all stick to the speed limits, especially in residential areas where there are kids playing and people walking around."

Narrator: Officer Taylor pauses to give Mr. Ramirez a moment to absorb what she just said.

Officer Taylor: "I’m going to issue a ticket today for the speeding violation, but before I do, I want to make sure you understand the reasoning behind it. It’s not just about the law—speeding can create dangers for others. I’m here to ensure everyone in the community stays safe."

Mr. Ramirez:
"I get it, Officer. I wasn’t thinking, but I really don’t want to cause any problems or put anyone at risk. I’ll definitely pay more attention from now on."

Officer Taylor: "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Ramirez. I appreciate you taking responsibility. I’m also going to make sure you’re aware of the options for paying the fine or contesting the ticket if you feel that you need to. You can find all that information on the ticket itself. I’ll also remind you that you can take a driving safety course in some cases, which can help with points on your record."

Mr. Ramirez: "Thank you for the information, Officer. I’ll definitely pay more attention and make sure this doesn’t happen again."

Narrator: Officer Taylor goes back to his squad car, completes his paperwork and returns to Mr. Ramirez's window with his copy of the citation.

Officer Taylor: "I appreciate your cooperation. And thank you for being respectful about this situation. I hope you have a safe drive home, and remember, if you ever have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out."

Mr. Ramirez: "Thanks again, Officer. I’ll be more careful next time."

Narrator: Officer Taylor returns to her car and continues with her patrol duties while Mr. Ramirez continues home for the night.

Scenario Group Work: In your group, using the pillars of Procedural Justice, discuss and show the ways that the pillars were used by Officer Taylor.

Discussion Board: Take a moment and reflect on the questions discussed in class (see below). Select one question and either create an image to represent your answer or create a written response (50 words minimum) and upload them to the discussion board.

1. What do you think your organization (supervisors and Chief/Sheriff) expects of front-line officers and deputies?
2. What do you expect from your organization?
3. What does your community expect of law enforcement?
4. What do you expect of the community?
5. Whose responsibility is it to improve internal procedural justice and external procedural justice?
6. Can every member of the community be reached? Hard-core felons?

Extra Help: Have more questions? Watch this short video. The video uses slightly different terminology but the concept is the same. You will be tested on the terminology presented in class today.

Video 3: What is Procedural justice?. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76fkEan5Nj4

Now that you know the basics of Procedural Justice, let's explore the two types: Internal and External.

Internal Procedural Justice: Officers who feel respected by their peers and their supervisors are more likely to accept departmental policies, understand decisions, and comply with them voluntarily.

External Procedural Justice: The relationships and interactions between police and the community, and the community's perception of police legitimacy.

In the following video, Dr. Tyler (2017) speaks about Police Legitimacy and Community Trust. In his 15-year study, two things emerged:

1. Decisions were unbiased
2. Respectful and dignified treatment was maintained.

Video 4: Dr. Tom Tyler Discusses Police Legitimacy and Community Trust/Cooperation at NPSC Briefing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e_8N805Tts

Discussion Board: Looking at what you know now, speak to the following in a post (100 words minimum)

1. Why do people obey the law?
2. Why do people not obey the law?

A police officer holding a small child at a community event. [Image] Courtesy of American Police Beat.

Fig 2: A Police Officer Holding a Small Child at a Community Event. https://apbweb.com/2024/03/more-effective-police-community-relations/

Below are two different scenarios that you might face during your career as a police officer. Take a few minutes to read each one, select one, and write about what you would do in this scenario. What challenges are you facing? What issues do you foresee as a result of the choice or choices that you could make? Is there case law to back up one of these choices that you face?

Scenario 1:

Officer James is a respected police officer in a mid-sized city known for its strong sense of community activism. Recently, tensions have been rising over a controversial new law, leading to large-scale protests in front of city hall. The demonstrations have been mostly peaceful, but some individuals within the crowd have engaged in vandalism and minor skirmishes.

The police chief has given a clear directive: officers must enforce a newly enacted curfew and disperse all crowds after 9 PM. However, many community leaders, including local business owners and activists, have pleaded with the police to allow peaceful protesters to stay beyond the curfew, fearing that forced dispersal will escalate tensions.

As 9 PM approaches, Officer James and his squad stand at the edge of the crowd. The majority of protesters are sitting with candles, chanting for justice, while a few individuals further back have begun spray-painting graffiti on government buildings. A superior officer radios in, demanding immediate action to clear the area. At the same time, a well-known community leader approaches Officer James, urging restraint and requesting more time for the peaceful demonstration.

Scenario 2:

Officer Sarah has been working in the narcotics division for several years and has built a strong network of confidential informants (CIs) who provide valuable intelligence on drug trafficking operations. One of her most reliable informants, Jake, is a low-level dealer trying to avoid jail time by cooperating with the police. Recently, Jake tipped her off about a major drug shipment arriving in the city, leading to the arrest of several high-profile criminals.

However, after the bust, Officer Sarah discovers that Jake has resumed selling drugs in small amounts, violating the terms of his informant agreement. Her lieutenant, eager to secure Jake’s help in a much larger upcoming case, instructs her to look the other way for now and not report Jake’s illegal activity.

Meanwhile, community members have expressed frustration that small-time dealers like Jake continue to operate while the police focus on high-profile targets. A local pastor, who runs a rehabilitation center, approaches Officer Sarah with concerns that Jake has been dealing near a youth shelter. The pastor, unaware of Jake’s status as an informant, urges Sarah to take action before more young people get caught up in drugs.

Peer-Reviewed Project:

Materials Needed:

• Computer
• Large Post-Its
• Markers

Time to Complete:

• 45 minutes to 1 hour

Instructions:

Throughout this block, we have spoken about the 4 Pillars of Procedural Justice and how we can use these in our communities. It's your turn now!

In your group, create an event that is designed to enhance communication and community among the public and police. This event should seek to hit on the variety of things that we have spoke about today. Using the Large Post-It, outline your event so that people can understand the event and details without you there to explain this. It must be able to stand on its own. You are planning this so it should be thorough and well planned out.

This will be reviewed by peers and instructors looking at the following criteria:

1. Organization and Planning
2. Community Engagement
3. Relevance and Impact
4. Communication and Promotion
5. Inclusivity and Accessibility
6. Quality of Activities/Content

Discussion Board: Take a moment and reflect on this last block. You created one event using a group for assistance. In the discussion board, create an additional event. This should be different from the one that you presented in class, but does not need to be as detailed. Comment on the discussion board with your event, purpose, scope, and what you expect to see as a result of this event (Minimum 100 words).

Materials Needed:

• Computer
• Large Post-Its
• Markers

Time to Complete:

• 45 minutes to 1 hour

Instructions:

Throughout this block, we have spoken about the 4 Pillars of Procedural Justice and how we can use these in our communities. It's your turn now!

In your group, create an event that is designed to enhance communication and community among the public and police. This event should seek to hit on the variety of things that we have spoken about today. Using the Large Post-It, outline your event so that people can understand the event and details without you there to explain this. It must be able to stand on its own. You are planning this, so it should be thorough and well planned out.

This will be reviewed by peers and instructors looking at the following criteria:

1. Organization and Planning
2. Community Engagement
3. Relevance and Impact
4. Communication and Promotion
5. Inclusivity and Accessibility
6. Quality of Activities/Content

After your planning time, you will post your post-it note and be evaluated on the above criteria.

After the block, recruits will be provided the following self-study questions and answers so that they can prepare for the quiz and exam.

Self-Study Questions and Answers:

1. How does police legitimacy impact officer safety? Police legitimacy increases community trust and cooperation, which can reduce the need for force and potentially dangerous confrontations. When the community perceives officers as fair and just, they are more likely to comply voluntarily, creating safer interactions.
2. What is expectation bias, and how might it affect police officers' perceptions? Expectation bias is the tendency to find what one is looking for; it can cause police officers to perceive increased danger and disrespect, even when data shows otherwise. This bias can be particularly damaging to police officer and community relations.
3. Name two ways that law enforcement effectiveness has improved over time. Law enforcement effectiveness has improved through better technology, such as ALPRs (Automated License Plate Readers), and increased training for officers, including longer basic training periods and annual advanced training.
4. What is the relationship between law enforcement effectiveness and public views of police legitimacy? Effectiveness in enforcing laws, as measured by arrests, is not a reliable indicator of public views of police legitimacy; public trust is rooted in the application of procedural justice principles.
5. Define police legitimacy. Police legitimacy is the public's belief that law enforcement authorities have the right to set and enforce rules, which is shown through compliance, support, and engagement with police programs. Legitimacy is a subjective and dynamic standard that can vary based on community views.
6. How does the community’s perception of the process of an interaction with police, influence their overall view of the police? Community members often base their perception of police on both the outcome and the process of an encounter. Even if the outcome is negative for them (such as receiving a ticket), the fairness and transparency of the process heavily influence how they view the police.
7. Describe the difference between internal and external procedural justice. Internal procedural justice refers to how officers are treated by their peers and supervisors within the police department, which impacts their acceptance of policies and compliance. External procedural justice, on the other hand, deals with the relationships and interactions between the police and the community.
8. Name the four pillars of procedural justice. The four pillars of procedural justice are: fairness and consistency of rule application, providing voice and representation in the process, transparency and openness of process, and impartiality and unbiased decision-making.
9. How does treating the public with respect affect officer safety and voluntary compliance? Treating people with respect, through the consistent application of procedural justice principles, increases voluntary compliance, cooperation, and support, reducing the need to resort to force, which ultimately improves officer safety.
10. Name two of the “Core Four” principles of procedural justice. Two of the "Core Four" principles of procedural justice are "voice," which involves allowing people to explain their views, and "neutrality," which entails exhibiting objective intentions and unbiased decision-making.

In Canvas, you will see a Survey for this block of instruction. This is a text box. Please fill in the box with things that you liked, disliked, and suggestions for the next class. We value your comments as you are the learner and we seek to craft coursework that is relevant and assists in teaching concepts.