ABSTRACT
Understanding the lack of perceived police legitimacy among the American public has emerged as a central concern of both scholars and legal authorities. Empirical research on this question highlights the key role that judgments about the procedural justice of police actions play in shaping the perceived legitimacy of the police and influencing compliance and cooperation. When the public evaluates the police their central concern is with whether or not police officers and/or departments exercise their authority in fair ways. This includes both making decisions fairly and treating people with respect and concern. The importance that procedural justice has assumed in discussions about good policing highlights that value of psychological theories and their ability to have real world impact.
