Procedural justice is the process used by police officers in which citizens are treated fairly and with proper respect. Legitimacy refers to when a citizen feels that a police officer should be deferred to, complied with, and trusted. It’s as basic as the old adage: It is not what you say, but how you say it. It’s not just about what you do, but how you are doing it.
The goal of OPOTA’s
Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy course, which will be offered two more times before the end of the year, is to help officers strengthen their department’s relationship with the community, ultimately improving officer safety and efficiency. The course is free.
Procedural justice and legitimacy in law enforcement is not just a strategy, but a movement. By fostering an environment where procedural justice principles become standard practice, the department can create an organizational culture that fosters a true partnership with the public and leads to safer work environments.
There is still time to sign up for the
Sept. 16 regional course, which will be held at The Family Center in Findlay. The course will then be offered one more time before the end of the year on Oct. 1 at OPOTA’s main campus in London.
The course was developed through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy’s partnership with the Education and Training Division of the Chicago Police Department, with substantial support from Yale law professors Tom R. Tyler and Tracey L. Meares. Additional cooperation from researchers Dennis P. Rosenbaum, Amie M. Schuck, and other staff from the University of Illinois at Chicago was critical in the implementation of the initial Procedural Justice curriculum.
Learn
more and register at the Attorney General’s website.