Examining Changes in Procedural Justice and Their Influence on Problem-solving Court Outcomes Behavioral Sciences & the Law

• NCJ Number: 252531
• Journal: Behavioral Sciences & the Law Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: 2018 Pages: 32-45
• Author(s): Cindy B. Dollar; Bradley Ray; Mary Kay Hudson; Bittany J. Hood
• Date Published: 2018
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2013-DC-BX-0018
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Publication Format: Article; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined defendant perceptions of procedural justice with judges and case managers across multiple problem]solving courts over time.

Abstract

The number of problem solving courts has grown substantially since the mid 1990s. Research consistently indicates that participation in these courts lowers recidivism, which is often attributed to defendants increased perceptions of procedural justice in these programs. Yet, prior studies are limited in their focus, often examining interactions with the judge in a single court or examining defendant perceptions and outcomes at a single time point. The current study found that procedural justice varied across court actors and over time. Procedural justice is lower among judges than among case managers; however, changes in perceptions of procedural justice with the judge are associated with improved court outcomes. The findings suggest that defendant perceptions are variable and complex, but are important in explaining variations in outcomes. (publisher abstract modified)